WASHINGTON, Nov 17 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden’s administration will allow Ukraine to use U.S.-provided weapons to strike deep into Russian territory, three sources familiar with the matter said, in a significant change to Washington’s policy in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

Ukraine plans to conduct its first long-range attacks in the coming days, the sources said, without revealing details due to operational security concerns.

The move by the United States two months before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20 follows months of requests by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to allow Ukraine’s military to use U.S. weapons to hit Russian military targets far from its border.

The change follows Russia’s deployment of North Korean ground troops to supplement its own forces, a development that has caused alarm in Washington and Kyiv.

The first deep strikes are likely to be carried out using ATACMS rockets, which have a range of up to 190 miles (306 km), according to the sources.

  • freagle@lemmygrad.ml
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    2 hours ago

    Well, at least we know where the Democrats’ priorities are.

    Foreign policy: Escalation of global war.
    Domestic policy: thoughts and prayers

  • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆@lemmy.ml
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    2 hours ago

    If this is true, this is an act of absolute insanity on the part of Biden admin. This would be an act of war from Russian perspective. Russians repeatedly stated that these weapons can only be operated by NATO personnel, and the use of these weapons would mean direct attack by NATO on Russia. Furthermore, since tomahawks can carry a nuclear pay load, the launches of these missiles will be viewed as a nuclear attack. Russians aren’t gonna wait and see whether a nuclear capable missile actually had a nuke payload or not before they respond.

    • granolabar@kbin.melroy.org
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      1 hour ago

      Furthermore, since tomahawks can carry a nuclear pay load, the launches of these missiles will be viewed as a nuclear attack.

      What are you talking about? When did US delicer tomahawks?

      At least get your facts straight lol

      • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆@lemmy.ml
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        1 hour ago

        Tomahawks was the ones discussed recently, however ATACMS can also carry nukes. So, not sure what facts you think aren’t straight lol.

  • davel@lemmy.ml
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    3 hours ago

    three sources familiar with the matter

    Anonymous sources. On the one hand, this is weak tea, but on the other, I wouldn’t put it past the Biden administration at all.

    • geneva_convenience@lemmy.mlOP
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      2 hours ago

      Reuters and NYT are reporting it. Those outlets get their talking points straight from the white house. There is little reason to doubt this.

    • FreudianCafe@lemmy.ml
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      2 hours ago

      Things were going way too quietly since the election. This is probably the first step towards starting the major conflict

  • vfreire85@lemmy.ml
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    10 minutes ago

    they didn’t worked within ukraine, what makes them believe they’re gonna work within russia.