EU’s Borrell acknowledges US reversal on long-range missile strikes in Ukraine
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has announced that Washington has given its approval for Kiev to utilize ATACMS for conducting strikes deep within Russia. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The Biden administration has approved the use of US-made missiles capable of reaching up to 300 kilometers into Russian territory, according to the EU’s top diplomat.
Josep Borrell, the outgoing foreign policy chief for the EU, confirmed that Washington has lifted restrictions on Ukraine’s deployment of US-supplied long-range missiles against targets deep within Russia. This represents a significant policy shift from the US concerning the Ukraine conflict.
A report from The New York Times on Sunday, citing unnamed American officials, indicated that President Joe Biden has removed the limitations on Ukraine’s use of ATACMS missiles.
During a press conference on Monday, Borrell was asked to address these reports and the timing of Biden’s decision. He stated, “The White House has authorized the use of its weapons, with up to 300km radius, into the Russian territories,” as reported by various media outlets.
He added, “It’s not that much in terms of distance; it doesn’t go deep into the country, but this is the decision by the Biden administration.” Borrell emphasized that the Biden administration had “said ‘no’ for a long time and then they are ending up saying yes.”
When questioned about the timing of this decision, particularly in relation to the upcoming elections, Borrell remarked, “Why have they taken this decision now and not before the elections? I don’t know.”
Previously, the use of Western long-range weapons against internationally recognized Russian territory had been prohibited by Ukraine's allies due to concerns about escalating hostilities.
On the same day, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller remarked that he could not “confirm any policy changes.”
Borrell was also asked about varying stances among EU member states regarding this matter, noting that discussions have occurred but each state will make its own decision at the appropriate time. “Today there were no decisions on this,” he said.
Additionally, the French daily Le Figaro reported on Sunday that France and the UK had aligned with Washington’s stance, authorizing strikes with their weaponry deep inside Russia. However, the publication later removed its claim that the countries had sanctioned the use of SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles for such actions.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot commented on Monday that France is still deliberating whether to permit Ukraine to target Russian territory using French-supplied missiles.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has cautioned Western nations against permitting Ukraine to utilize long-range weapons against Russia, asserting that such actions could escalate to direct confrontation, potentially leading to nuclear war. He contended that Ukraine would not be able to execute these strikes independently as they depend on targeting data provided by NATO.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
Josep Borrell, the outgoing foreign policy chief for the EU, confirmed that Washington has lifted restrictions on Ukraine’s deployment of US-supplied long-range missiles against targets deep within Russia. This represents a significant policy shift from the US concerning the Ukraine conflict.
A report from The New York Times on Sunday, citing unnamed American officials, indicated that President Joe Biden has removed the limitations on Ukraine’s use of ATACMS missiles.
During a press conference on Monday, Borrell was asked to address these reports and the timing of Biden’s decision. He stated, “The White House has authorized the use of its weapons, with up to 300km radius, into the Russian territories,” as reported by various media outlets.
He added, “It’s not that much in terms of distance; it doesn’t go deep into the country, but this is the decision by the Biden administration.” Borrell emphasized that the Biden administration had “said ‘no’ for a long time and then they are ending up saying yes.”
When questioned about the timing of this decision, particularly in relation to the upcoming elections, Borrell remarked, “Why have they taken this decision now and not before the elections? I don’t know.”
Previously, the use of Western long-range weapons against internationally recognized Russian territory had been prohibited by Ukraine's allies due to concerns about escalating hostilities.
On the same day, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller remarked that he could not “confirm any policy changes.”
Borrell was also asked about varying stances among EU member states regarding this matter, noting that discussions have occurred but each state will make its own decision at the appropriate time. “Today there were no decisions on this,” he said.
Additionally, the French daily Le Figaro reported on Sunday that France and the UK had aligned with Washington’s stance, authorizing strikes with their weaponry deep inside Russia. However, the publication later removed its claim that the countries had sanctioned the use of SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles for such actions.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot commented on Monday that France is still deliberating whether to permit Ukraine to target Russian territory using French-supplied missiles.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has cautioned Western nations against permitting Ukraine to utilize long-range weapons against Russia, asserting that such actions could escalate to direct confrontation, potentially leading to nuclear war. He contended that Ukraine would not be able to execute these strikes independently as they depend on targeting data provided by NATO.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
