NEW PHASE IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR?
Pres. Biden has approved the use of US-supplied weapons in Ukrainian attacks on targets inside Russia. Such attacks using US weapons had been prohibited before. The Russian response to this change, which took effect on 5/30/24, is unknown as of 6/2/24. But one can imagine various scenarios: no reaction; Russia firing on NATO trainers, of which there are significant numbers now active in Ukraine; Russia firing on NATO countries, such as Finland, one of the Baltic nations, Poland, or Romania; Russian use of tactical nuclear weapons. Any one of these last three options could lead to a wider war or even World War III.
Why is this change in US policy happening now? The main reason is that Russia appears to be slowly pushing Ukrainian forces back, and is now close to Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. NATO and non-NATO (for example. Moldova) nations bordering Russia are fearful. Pres. Macron of France has even been speaking about using NATO troops against Russia.
The situation is ominous and full of unknowns because of the lack of information on Russia and hawkish pressure on Pres. Biden. Caution is necessary.
Source: The New York Times, 5/30/24