Macron Commends Biden's Alleged Decision on Ukraine Missiles
French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that the reported lifting of a US ban on long-range strikes on Russia is “a good decision.” Read the full article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
French President Emmanuel Macron has asserted that it is Russia, not the United States, that has been escalating tensions amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Macron expressed his approval of a reported decision by US President Joe Biden allowing Ukraine to utilize American-made long-range weapons for strikes deep within Russian territory. Reports surfaced on Sunday indicating that the Biden administration would lift its prohibition on Kiev targeting internationally recognized Russian regions with US-supplied ATACMS missiles. Western media noted that Ukraine had received the green light to employ these munitions in Russia’s Kursk Region, where Ukrainian forces have reportedly been active since early August.
While the White House has yet to issue an official comment, the situation has been acknowledged by Brian A. Nichols, Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the US State Department. He told Brazilian outlet O Globo that “the weapons that President Biden has authorized Ukraine to use will give it greater ability to defend itself,” and might encourage Russia to “negotiate peace.”
On the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Macron stated that Biden had made “a good decision” by permitting these strikes on Russia. He indicated that Washington's change in stance was a response to the reported involvement of North Korean troops in the conflict between Moscow and Kiev.
"Russia is the only power that made an escalatory decision... it is really this break that led to the US decision,” he remarked.
On Monday, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh noted that US intelligence suggested approximately 11,000 North Korean soldiers had likely moved into Russia’s Kursk Region, though she emphasized that there is no evidence of those troops engaging Ukrainian forces in battle.
Moscow and Pyongyang have not confirmed or denied the reported deployment of North Korean servicemen.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot mentioned on Monday that France is contemplating following the US lead in lifting its ban on long-range strikes. In May, Macron had publicly indicated that Paris was considering allowing Ukraine to use its SCALP missiles against Russian territory.
“We openly said this was an option that we would consider if it was to allow to strike a target from where Russia is currently aggressing Ukrainian territory. So [there is] nothing new on the other side,” Barrot explained.
In response to the reported changes from Washington, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described it as creating “a qualitatively new spiral of escalation of tensions and a qualitatively new situation in terms of US involvement in this conflict.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow would regard any US-supplied strikes on Russia’s internationally recognized territory as a direct NATO involvement in the conflict. He indicated that, under such circumstances, Moscow might pursue an asymmetrical response by supplying advanced weaponry to entities hostile to Washington, including North Korea.
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
Macron expressed his approval of a reported decision by US President Joe Biden allowing Ukraine to utilize American-made long-range weapons for strikes deep within Russian territory. Reports surfaced on Sunday indicating that the Biden administration would lift its prohibition on Kiev targeting internationally recognized Russian regions with US-supplied ATACMS missiles. Western media noted that Ukraine had received the green light to employ these munitions in Russia’s Kursk Region, where Ukrainian forces have reportedly been active since early August.
While the White House has yet to issue an official comment, the situation has been acknowledged by Brian A. Nichols, Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the US State Department. He told Brazilian outlet O Globo that “the weapons that President Biden has authorized Ukraine to use will give it greater ability to defend itself,” and might encourage Russia to “negotiate peace.”
On the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Macron stated that Biden had made “a good decision” by permitting these strikes on Russia. He indicated that Washington's change in stance was a response to the reported involvement of North Korean troops in the conflict between Moscow and Kiev.
"Russia is the only power that made an escalatory decision... it is really this break that led to the US decision,” he remarked.
On Monday, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh noted that US intelligence suggested approximately 11,000 North Korean soldiers had likely moved into Russia’s Kursk Region, though she emphasized that there is no evidence of those troops engaging Ukrainian forces in battle.
Moscow and Pyongyang have not confirmed or denied the reported deployment of North Korean servicemen.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot mentioned on Monday that France is contemplating following the US lead in lifting its ban on long-range strikes. In May, Macron had publicly indicated that Paris was considering allowing Ukraine to use its SCALP missiles against Russian territory.
“We openly said this was an option that we would consider if it was to allow to strike a target from where Russia is currently aggressing Ukrainian territory. So [there is] nothing new on the other side,” Barrot explained.
In response to the reported changes from Washington, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described it as creating “a qualitatively new spiral of escalation of tensions and a qualitatively new situation in terms of US involvement in this conflict.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow would regard any US-supplied strikes on Russia’s internationally recognized territory as a direct NATO involvement in the conflict. He indicated that, under such circumstances, Moscow might pursue an asymmetrical response by supplying advanced weaponry to entities hostile to Washington, including North Korea.
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
