US President Joe Biden has reportedly agreed to allow Ukraine to use US long-range missiles to attack targets inside Russian territory, AFP reported on November 18, citing a US official.
A long-range army tactical missile system manufactured by Lockheed Martin
The information from the unnamed US official confirmed previous reports by The New York Times and The Washington Post about a significant change in US policy regarding long-range missiles provided to Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has long pushed for the US to approve the use of the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) to strike targets inside Russian territory.
President Biden changed his mind after hearing about North Korea deploying troops to Russia, according to an unnamed official. North Korea said on October 25 that the move, if it happens, would not violate international law, despite the US, South Korea and Japan expressing serious concerns.
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While spokesmen for the US State Department, the White House and the Pentagon declined to comment on the information, Poland was among the countries that welcomed the US change of decision.
Russia and Ukraine have not commented on the above information.
The news comes as the US prepares to hand over power to President-elect Donald Trump, who has promised to end the conflict in Ukraine within a day.
US officials have previously said the ATACMS missiles would make only a limited difference to Ukraine's campaign, and they also want to ensure that Washington's missile arsenal will not be depleted during the aid to Kyiv.
France and Britain have supplied Ukraine with their long-range missiles, Storm Shadow and SCALP respectively, but have not yet given Kyiv the right to strike Russian territory without the US approval of the ATACMS-related use rights.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far refused to supply Taurus missiles with a range of more than 500 km because of concerns that Kyiv could use them to attack targets on Russian territory.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ukraine-duoc-bat-den-xanh-tan-cong-lanh-tho-nga-bang-ten-lua-my-tam-xa-185241118063027185.htm
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