Thu Sep 12 09:06:00 UTC 2024: ## Biden Under Pressure to Allow Ukraine Long-Range Missile Strikes on Russia
**WASHINGTON** – Amid a deadly surge of Russian airstrikes targeting Ukrainian cities, President Biden is facing increasing pressure to authorize Ukraine to use Western-supplied long-range missiles on military targets deep inside Russia. While Biden initially imposed a 60-mile limit on Ukraine’s use of American weapons against Russia, a recent uptick of Russian guided glide bombs, with as many as 800 hitting Ukraine in a single week, has shifted the debate.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly requested the use of long-range missiles to strike Russian military installations responsible for launching attacks and storing weapons. Key allies like Britain and France, who provided Ukraine with long-range air-launched “bunker busters” earlier this year, are reportedly waiting for Biden’s green light before allowing those weapons to target Russian territory.
The issue will be a major topic of discussion when Biden meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Washington on Friday, following a joint diplomatic visit to Kyiv by their top officials on Wednesday.
However, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, has warned of “appropriate countermeasures” should the West expand Ukraine’s military capabilities. This threat underscores the potential for escalation in the ongoing conflict should Biden authorize long-range strikes.
The decision hinges on a delicate balancing act, weighing the urgent need to protect Ukraine from Russian attacks against the risk of escalating the conflict with Russia and potentially triggering a wider war. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether Biden will bend to pressure and allow Ukraine to strike deeper into Russia, potentially ushering in a new phase of the war.
First Piper 