Volodimir Zelensky was cautious this Sunday after reports in the North American press indicating that the United States had authorized Ukraine to use long-range American missiles against Russian territory, limiting itself to saying that these weapons “they will speak for themselves.”
The United States “gave the green light to the use of long-range missiles”he told the agency on Sunday AFP an American official.
Ukraine, facing the Russian invasion since February 2022, had been demanding this change in strategy by Joe Biden’s government for some time. However, neither Washington nor kyiv have confirmed the information so far.
Zelensky did refer to the revelations during his daily speech this Sunday night, although he confirmed them to us directly.
Remembering the importance of the “long-range capability” of its armythe Ukrainian president noted that “today, numerous media outlets report that we have received authorization to take appropriate measures.” “But bombings are not carried out with the help of words. “Things like this are not advertised”he clarified.
And he added: “The missiles will speak for themselves”.
This announcement comes shortly before the departure of Joe Biden of the White House and the return of the republican Donald Trumpvery critical of US aid to Ukraine.
kyiv fears that the future president will cut off its financial aid or try to force Ukraine to conclude an agreement with Russia.
For months now, Zelensky has been demanding authorization to use British Storm Shadow missiles and American missiles. ATACMS to attack targets further inside Russian territory.
These weapons with a maximum range of almost 300 kilometers would allow Ukraine to reach Russian army logistics centers and the airfields from where its bombers take off.
But several countries, including the United States, have until now refused to give the green light, fearing an escalation with Moscow.
The head of the Kremlin, Vladimir Putinwarned that such a decision would mean that “NATO countries are at war against Russia.” In that sense, the president had warned that Russia could use nuclear weapons if it were attacked with conventional missiles and that Moscow would consider any assault supported by a nuclear power as a joint attack.
Biden had remained against it, determined to hold the line against any escalation that he felt could drag the United States and other NATO members into direct conflict with Russia.
But weeks ago the dictatorship of North Korea has deployed thousands of troops to Russia to help Moscow try to reclaim land in the Kursk border region that Ukraine seized this year. According to estimates from the United States, South Korea and Ukraine, dictator Kim Jong-un sent nearly 12,000 soldiers to reinforce Putin’s troops.
Likewise, intelligence officials in Washington and Seoul maintain that Pyongyang has also provided Russia with significant quantities of ammunition to replenish their dwindling weapons arsenals.
Trump, who takes office in January, spoke for months as a candidate about his desire to see Russia’s war in Ukraine end, but mostly dodged questions about whether he wanted U.S. ally Ukraine to win.
He also repeatedly criticized the Biden administration for giving tens of billions of dollars in aid to kyiv. His election victory has Ukraine’s international supporters worried that any rushed deal could benefit Putin.
This Sunday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned that the head of the Kremlin is not willing to “abandon his imperialist objectives” in Ukraine.
(With information from AFP and AP)
