Ukraine Uses US-Provided Long Range Missiles In Russia
Ukraine fired long-range missiles provided by the U.S. into Russia for the first time Tuesday. This comes days after President Joe Biden lifted the US’ restriction on Ukraine using US long-range missiles in Russian territory.
One of the arguments the US administration made for allowing Ukraine to use American weapons in Russian territory was Russia’s use of North Korean soldiers in their war with Ukraine.
A hypothesis of why this is being done now, is to strengthen Ukraine’s negotiating position, in the probable event of a negotiated peace deal during Donald Trump’s term.
This should not be read as something that will change the course of the war, rather, as something that gives Ukraine a modicum of leverage, whether at the negotiating table, or on the battlefield.
While the lifting of restrictions is a welcome announcement, it puts into question the Biden administration’s strategy. The whole argument that the US administration made for not allowing Ukraine to use their missiles in Russian territory, was to not provoke Russia.
But if that were the case, why would they allow Ukraine to use US missiles in Russia now? It is correct to not be cowed by Moscow’s bluffing now. But understanding this means that one should understand that we should never have been dissuaded by Moscow’s posturing in the first place.
This ties in with the Biden administration’s general strategy during this war. Giving Ukraine only enough to hold off the Russians, but not enough to take the initiative and win the war. Such a strategy reduces the war to one of attrition, a war that the much smaller Ukraine cannot win.
The irony is that for all the left wing’s claims that Trump would “give Ukraine to Russia,” the probable negotiated peace deal between Ukraine and Russia under Trump would hardly be different than the eventual negotiated peace deal between the two nations under a Democratic administration.
If we wanted Ukraine to win the war, we would have given them the weapons, permission, and air superiority to go on the offensive 18 months ago. Now we must salvage the best possible outcome for Ukraine.
The US’ green light for Ukraine to use American missiles in Russia is necessary for increasing the chances of a favorable peace agreement for Ukraine, but also illustrates the frustratingly poor strategy of the Biden administration in handling this war.