Kremlin responds to possible permission for AFU to strike deep into Russian Federation with US missiles

The possible authorization for the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) to strike deep into Russia with Western long-range ATACMS weapons means a new round of tension in the conflict. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on November 18.

"If such a decision has indeed been formulated and communicated to the Kiev regime, then, of course, this is a qualitatively new round of tension and a qualitatively new situation in terms of the involvement of the United States in this conflict," he said during a briefing.

Peskov drew attention to the fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin's position, which he had earlier voiced in St. Petersburg, on the issue was "clearly formulated." He recommended that Western countries familiarize themselves with these words.

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On the same day, Deputy National Security Advisor to the US President John Feiner said that the White House did not directly confirm the authorization for Ukraine to strike Russian territory with ATACMS missiles and based its decisions on the situation on the battlefield.

Earlier, on November 17, The New York Times reported that Biden had authorized Ukraine to use U.S. long-range missiles to strike Russia. The Le Figaro newspaper wrote at the same time that the French and British authorities had made the same decision, but then removed this information from the article. EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrel said afterwards that on November 18-19 the issue of lifting restrictions on strikes deep into Russia with European weapons would be discussed.

Western countries have stepped up military and financial support for Ukraine amid Russia's special operation to protect Donbass, which began on February 24, 2022. The decision to conduct it was taken by the Russian president because of the aggravation of the situation in the region due to the increased shelling by Ukrainian troops.