Le Figaro removes SCALP missile assertion
Le Figaro initially reported that both Paris and London have taken cues from Washington, permitting strikes deep within Russian territory. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The French daily Le Figaro has retracted its statement claiming that France and the UK permitted Ukraine to utilize the long-range missiles they supplied for strikes within internationally recognized Russian territory. This assertion emerged shortly after the New York Times reported that outgoing US President Joe Biden had authorized such actions.
The UK first provided Ukraine with long-range Storm Shadow missiles in May 2023, followed by France supplying its own version, known as SCALP, a few months later. The US contributed ATACMS rockets in the fall of that year.
Despite Ukraine's persistent appeals to utilize these weapons for targeting deeper inside Russia, its Western allies had largely refrained from public endorsement, citing fears of potential uncontrollable escalation.
In its initial report, Le Figaro claimed that the “French and the British had authorized Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory with their SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles.” However, in a revised version of the article, any indication of the supposed authorization or references to SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles have been removed. Nonetheless, the original phrasing remains available in cached versions of the report.
Speaking ahead of an EU ministerial meeting in Brussels on Monday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated that there was “nothing new” regarding Paris' position on long-range strikes against internationally recognized Russian territory, emphasizing that such a possibility remained an option.
The New York Times, citing unnamed US officials, reported on Sunday that the White House had approved Ukrainian strikes on Russian forces, as well as on alleged North Korean troops in Russia’s Kursk Region, utilizing US-supplied ATACMS missiles. Reports from the NYT and other media outlets also indicated that Washington might extend its approval for Ukraine to target other regions in Russia.
Neither the White House nor the Pentagon has issued comments on this situation.
In a video address on Sunday, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky cautiously acknowledged the reported development, stating that “strikes are not carried out with words. Such things are not announced.” He added, “Missiles will speak for themselves. They certainly will,” without providing further details.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked on Monday that if confirmed, Biden’s reported decision would represent a “qualitatively new round of tension.”
In September, President Vladimir Putin suggested that if Western powers provided authorization for strikes, it would imply that “NATO countries [would] become directly involved in the military conflict,” arguing that Ukrainian forces lacked the necessary capabilities to handle Western-supplied long-range missiles effectively.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
The UK first provided Ukraine with long-range Storm Shadow missiles in May 2023, followed by France supplying its own version, known as SCALP, a few months later. The US contributed ATACMS rockets in the fall of that year.
Despite Ukraine's persistent appeals to utilize these weapons for targeting deeper inside Russia, its Western allies had largely refrained from public endorsement, citing fears of potential uncontrollable escalation.
In its initial report, Le Figaro claimed that the “French and the British had authorized Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory with their SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles.” However, in a revised version of the article, any indication of the supposed authorization or references to SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles have been removed. Nonetheless, the original phrasing remains available in cached versions of the report.
Speaking ahead of an EU ministerial meeting in Brussels on Monday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated that there was “nothing new” regarding Paris' position on long-range strikes against internationally recognized Russian territory, emphasizing that such a possibility remained an option.
The New York Times, citing unnamed US officials, reported on Sunday that the White House had approved Ukrainian strikes on Russian forces, as well as on alleged North Korean troops in Russia’s Kursk Region, utilizing US-supplied ATACMS missiles. Reports from the NYT and other media outlets also indicated that Washington might extend its approval for Ukraine to target other regions in Russia.
Neither the White House nor the Pentagon has issued comments on this situation.
In a video address on Sunday, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky cautiously acknowledged the reported development, stating that “strikes are not carried out with words. Such things are not announced.” He added, “Missiles will speak for themselves. They certainly will,” without providing further details.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked on Monday that if confirmed, Biden’s reported decision would represent a “qualitatively new round of tension.”
In September, President Vladimir Putin suggested that if Western powers provided authorization for strikes, it would imply that “NATO countries [would] become directly involved in the military conflict,” arguing that Ukrainian forces lacked the necessary capabilities to handle Western-supplied long-range missiles effectively.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
