For the first time, Biden allowed Ukraine to use ATACMS missiles for strikes on the territory of the Russian Federation

US President Joe Biden, two months before the end of his presidential term, for the first time allowed Ukraine to use long-range ATACMS missiles to launch strikes on the territory of Russia. This is reported by sources The New York Times and Reuters, who note that this decision is a significant change in the policy of the United States regarding the support of Ukraine in the war with Russia.

Also, these media reported that Ukraine’s plans to carry out long-range strikes have already been confirmed, but for security reasons, the details of the operation have not yet been disclosed. Ukraine is expected to use ATACMS missiles with a range of up to 306 kilometers, known as Army Tactical Missile Systems, which would allow strikes deep into Russian territory.

As the NYT notes, Biden’s decision to authorize the use of ATACMS became the subject of serious discussions among his advisers, especially since President-elect Donald Trump, who is preparing to take office, has publicly announced his intention to limit further support to Ukraine.

Biden’s decision was made against the background of Russia’s unexpected move to involve units of North Korean troops in the conflict. The media reports that Russian troops are currently preparing for a large-scale offensive with about 50,000 troops, including North Korean soldiers, to attack fortified Ukrainian positions in the Kursk region.

Moscow’s plan is to regain control over the entire Russian territory, which was temporarily under the control of Ukraine. Therefore, the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be able to use ATACMS missiles to launch strikes against concentrations of Russian and North Korean troops, strategic facilities, military equipment, logistics centers, ammunition depots and supply lines deep in Russia. This can help the Ukrainian army effectively resist the Russian-North Korean offensive.

The NYT recalled that the issue of providing long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine has remained highly controversial since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Some Pentagon officials have opposed the transfer of these weapons, citing that the U.S. military’s stockpile is limited. Other members of the Biden administration, particularly in the White House, expressed fears that the transfer of long-range missiles to Ukraine could provoke an escalation from Russia.

However, supporters of a tougher approach to Moscow argue that the Biden administration is too susceptible to Putin’s intimidation, and that caution puts Ukrainian forces at a disadvantage on the battlefield. At the same time, supporters of Biden’s cautious approach noted that such a move avoided a sharp response from Russia.

Giving Ukraine permission to use American missiles to strike Russian territory could change the strategy in the war. In August, Ukrainian forces launched an operation in the Kursk region, taking control of some Russian territory, which raised concerns among American officials about the exhaustion of the Ukrainian army due to simultaneous Russian offensives in the east, in the Kharkiv region, as well as in the Kursk region.

The NYT emphasized that the introduction of more than 10,000 North Korean soldiers into the war, as well as Biden’s authorization for the use of ATACMS, became decisive events in the background of Trump’s preparations for the inauguration of the US president. The new president has already publicly stated his desire to end the war as soon as possible, although the details of his plans remain unknown.

The White House has yet to comment on Biden’s ATACMS decision, and it’s unclear whether Trump will reverse the decision after taking office. He repeatedly criticized the scale of military and financial aid to Ukraine and promised a quick end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, although he did not reveal exactly how this would happen.

Some Republicans in Congress have long urged Biden to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of American weapons, saying it would give Ukrainian forces more defensive options. However, Russia said that it would consider any relaxation of restrictions on the use of American weapons by Ukraine as a serious escalation of the conflict.