November 18, 2024 09:19 GMT
UKRAINE: After Biden Allows Long-Range Missile Use, EU's Borrell Calls For Same
UKRAINE
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EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has called for EU member states to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles made in the Union to hit targets inside the Russian Federation. Borrell's call comes after US President Joe Biden announced a major shift in US policy with regards to the war in allowing Ukraine to strike inside Russia with US-made ATACMS missiles.
- Speaking at a Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, Borrell said “I’ve been saying once and again that Ukraine should be able to use the arms we provided to them, in order to not only stop the arrows but also to be able to hit the archers". There remains some ambiguity as to whether the UK and France will allow Ukraine to fire Storm Shadow missiles into Russia, with a Le Figaro story initially claiming permission had been given being removed from their website according to Ukrainian outlets.
- Initially reported in the NYT, Ukraine will initially be allowed to use ATACMS missiles against Russian and North Korean troops in the Kursk oblast of Russia, currently partially occupied by Ukrainian forces.
- Russian media has called Biden's move "one of the most provocative, uncalculated decisions of his administration, which risks catastrophic consequences".
- Given that the Trump administration is expected to dramatically scale back US military and financial support for Ukraine upon taking office in January, it remains to be seen what impact ~2 months of using long-range missiles against Russian targets can have on the state of the war.
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