US President Joe Biden has given the green light to Ukraine to use US long-range missiles to strike inside Russia.
After months of ruling out such a move over fears of escalating the conflict and bringing about a direct confrontation between Russia and Nato, Ukraine will begin using the deadly missiles.
The U-turn in policy marks a significant shift in the war which was started by Russia in February 2022.
Senior Russian legislator Leonid Slutsky has already dubbed Biden as ‘Bloody Joe’ for his decision.
The Kremlin was swift in its condemnation, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov telling reporters: ‘It is obvious that the outgoing administration in Washington intends to take steps and they have been talking about this, to continue adding fuel to the fire and provoking further escalation of tensions around this conflict.’
It comes less than two months before Joe Biden, 81, will leave the Oval Office after the US election win by Donald Trump.
Senator Vladimir Dzhabarov, in comments to state news agency Tass, called Biden’s decision ‘a very big step toward the beginning of the third world war’.
On Sunday, Zelensky said: ‘Today, much is being said in the media about us receiving permission for the relevant actions.
‘But strikes are not made with words. Such things are not announced. The missiles will speak for themselves.’
Now Ukraine is reportedly getting ready for its first long-range attacks over the coming days, according to the sources.
However, they refused to reveal further details due to operational security concerns.
The White House has declined to comment.
It comes after months of lobbying by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the US to permit the use of long-range weapons to hit Russian military targets.
Zelenskyy and his allies argued that the earlier US ban stopping Ukraine from using its missiles in Russia made it impossible for Ukraine to try block Russian attacks on cities and electrical grids.
Some even said the US hesitation before the ban was lifted could cost Ukraine losing the war.
They could be used in response to North Korea’s move to send up to 12,000 troops to Russia to support President Vladimir Putin’s invasion, one source told the news agency AP.
Zelenskyy aired his frustrations on Telegram two weeks ago, saying ‘everyone is just waiting for the North Korean military to start attacking Ukrainians well.’
He wanted to strike pre-emptively against North Korean training camps in Russia, saying Kyiv knew where they were.
But he also said Ukraine cannot do so without permission from its Western allies.
Now Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian military leaders have given the go-ahead they were looking for.
Biden had remained opposed as he wanted to hold the line against further escalation he reportedly feared it could risk a direct conflict between Russia, the US and other NATO countries.
The reported shift by the US comes as Russia launched its largest attack in Ukraine since August.
At least seven people were killed in four regions of Ukraine after the attack which targeted energy facilities, causing power cuts and damage to infrastructure.
Zelenskyy said on social media Russia used almost 140 missiles, more than 900 guided aerial bombs and over 600 strike drones over the past week.
Russia has been producing hundreds of thermobaric drones which are particularly destructive for their ability to suck out all the oxygen in their path.
The Iranian-designed drones can hit targets even inside fortified buildings and underground.
What has Donald Trump said about war in Ukraine?
President-elect Trump has said he will limit US support for Ukraine – while pledging to end the war as soon as possible.
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Trump has suggested he could push Ukraine to agree to give up some land seized by Russia to find a way to end the war, AP reports.
He has also criticised the Biden administration for giving Kyiv military air worth tens of billions of dollars.
International supporters of Ukraine fear Trump’s victory could lead to a rushed settlement that would only benefit Putin.
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