Hours after reports emerged that US President Joe Biden has authorised Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied ballistic missiles for attacks inside Russia, lawmakers in Moscow have reacted to the decision, stating this could escalate the conflict in Ukraine, leading to World War Three.
Biden's major policy change that came at the fag end of his Presidency will now allow Kyiv the first use of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to defend its troops in the Kursk region of western Russia, according to The New York Times.
The reports added that his advisors are divided over the decision that came supposedly in reaction to Russia's move to bring in North Korean troops to fight Ukraine in Kursk.
However, the Russian lawmakers reacted that Biden's policy change meant that Ukrainian ruin was imminent. Andrei Klishas, a senior member of Russia's upper chamber of parliament, took to Telegram to post that the West has "decided on such a level of escalation that it could end with the Ukrainian statehood in complete ruins by morning."
Vladimir Dzhabarov, first deputy head of the Russian upper house's international affairs committee, told TASS agency that Moscow's response will be immediate. "This is a very big step towards the start of World War Three," the agency quoted Dzhabarov as saying.
Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the State Duma lower house's foreign affairs committee, too said that the move could invite a tougher response. "Strikes with U.S. missiles deep into Russian regions will inevitably entail a serious escalation, which threatens to lead to much more serious consequences," TASS news agency quoted Slutsky as saying.
The destruction of a modern russian BMD-4 IFV in the Kursk region.
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 16, 2024
📹: Air Assault Forces Command pic.twitter.com/3qQb4M9H0G
Has Zelenskyy responded
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine has not yet confirmed the NYT report on Biden's policy change but hinted in vague terms that "the number of missiles used to strike Russia" is the more important fact than the authorisation.
"Today, many in the media are talking about the fact that we have received permission to take appropriate actions," Zelensky said. "But blows are not inflicted with words. Such things are not announced. The rockets will speak for themselves."
It is expected that the Ukrainians could use the ATACMS missiles to hit Russian and North Korean troop concentrations in Kursk. These troops are deployed by Russia so that it can retake the land from Ukraine before entering any negotiations. Ukraine is hoping to defend its troops so that they would be able to trade any Russian territory they hold in Kursk for Ukrainian territory held by Russia. If Russia succeeds in retaking Kursks, Ukraine would have nothing in hand to trade for.
