What's happened
In a significant policy shift, President Biden has authorized Ukraine to use US-supplied long-range missiles against Russian and North Korean forces in the Kursk region. This decision comes amid escalating tensions as Russia deploys North Korean troops and intensifies its military campaign in Ukraine, just two months before President-elect Trump takes office.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the New York Times, Biden's decision to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles is a response to Russia's deployment of North Korean troops, which has alarmed both Washington and Kyiv. The Independent highlights that this shift comes as Trump prepares to take office, raising concerns about the future of US support for Ukraine. Business Insider UK notes that the ATACMS missiles will likely be used against Russian and North Korean forces in the Kursk region, where Ukraine previously launched a successful incursion. The Guardian emphasizes that this move could be seen as a major escalation by Russia, which has warned of severe consequences. Overall, the sources reflect a consensus on the significance of this policy change while also expressing caution about its potential repercussions.
How we got here
The US has historically restricted Ukraine's use of long-range missiles to prevent escalation in the conflict with Russia. However, recent developments, including Russia's deployment of North Korean troops, have prompted a reassessment of this policy as Ukraine seeks to defend its territory and counter Russian advances.
Common question
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How Will US-Supplied Missiles Change the Conflict in Ukraine?
The recent decision by President Biden to allow Ukraine to use US-supplied long-range missiles against Russian and North Korean forces marks a significant shift in the ongoing conflict. This policy change raises important questions about its implications for the war, the balance of power in the region, and the potential for escalation. Below, we explore key questions surrounding this development.
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More on these topics
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Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is an American politician who is the 46th and current president of the United States. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 and represented Delaware in the United States Senate
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in
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North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia constituting the northern part of the Korean Peninsula.
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Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy is a Ukrainian politician, actor and comedian who is the 6th and current president of Ukraine, serving since May 2019.
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Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, previously holding the position from 1999 until 2008.
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Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese parliament.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.