Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use its ATACMS long-range missiles, allowing it to attack targets on Russian territory. Biden’s decision responds to several reasons that put the conflict in a new scenario.
Trump has repeatedly expressed his intention to seek a more diplomatic solution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which could limit the flow of weapons to kyiv. Therefore, Biden seeks to maximize Ukraine’s defensive and offensive capabilities before that possible change.
The authorization of the long-range missiles seeks to balance the conflict, in the hope that Ukraine can reduce Russia’s logistical and military capabilities and aims to relieve pressure on Ukrainian defensive lines in the east, particularly in the Donbas region, where Russian forces have advanced at a worrying pace.
Until now, kyiv’s operations in Russian territory had been limited to drones and small raids. ATACMS missiles, however, are a much more powerful tool that allows for attacks with greater range and precision.
However, this decision also carries risks…
A possible Third World War?
Moscow has warned that these actions could lead to a “Third World War.” Although the risk of a nuclear confrontation has decreased since 2022, the Kremlin’s rhetoric remains aggressive, which could increase global tensions.
In fact, Russia assures that it is making “maximum efforts” to avoid the outbreak of a nuclear war.
The Kremlin has assured that Russia is doing everything possible to avoid a nuclear conflict after the launch, according to the Ukrainian Air Force, of an intercontinental ballistic missile against the territory of the neighboring country.
“We have stressed in the context of our nuclear doctrine that Russia maintains a responsible stance in the sense of making the maximum effort to prevent such a conflict,” said Dmitri Peskov, presidential spokesman, in his daily telephone press conference.
What countries are allies of Russia and Ukraine?
Allied countries of Ukraine
Ukraine’s main ally is USA, but it also has the support of the 27 members of the European Union, Great Britain and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)which has 21 EU countries.
Allied countries of Russia
On the opposite side, the countries that support Russia are the ones that form the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)a military alliance that was created after the fall of the Soviet Union and to which, in addition to Russia, belong Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Outside the region, it maintains a close relationship with Chinaa country with which they usually act in coordination before the United Nations and with North Koreathe latter has been able to create and test different types of nuclear weapons with Russian diplomatic support and intervention.
There are other countries that are running in favor of Russia, either because they have a common enemy in the US or for other political reasons. Thus, among the governments that support Putin are Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Iran and Syria.
