On Sunday, American media reported that the Joe Biden administration, two months before the end of its mandate, authorized Ukraine to attack military targets in Russia with American missiles. A decision that was long requested and awaited by Kyiv.
The green light given by the US now raises three important questions, writes The Economist.
The first is to what extent this decision will affect what is happening on the front. According to reports, at least initially, Ukraine will only be allowed to use ATACMS in Kursk Oblast, where Ukraine has seized territory that Russia is now fighting over. And where North Korea has sent thousands of its soldiers. This may make political sense in terms of sending a message to North Korea, which supports Russia in this effort.
The second question is whether Britain and France will now follow suit and allow Ukraine to use advanced cruise missiles against targets in the Russian Federation. The decision could also put pressure on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to reconsider his own refusal to provide Taurus cruise missiles. of Ukraine.
The third and most important question is how Putin will respond. America is “adding fuel to the fire”, a Kremlin spokesman said. “If such a decision is made, it will mean a whole new spiral of tension.“
Biden may be hoping Putin won't react aggressively to keep open the prospect of a deal with Trump next year. The president-elect is said to have told Putin in a phone call not to escalate the war.
However, there are fears that Russian spies may step up their campaign of sabotage, subversion and assassination attempts in Europe, which includes planting explosive devices on aircraft.