The New York Times and The Washington Post, citing unnamed sources, first reported the authorization as a response to North Korea’s deployment of troops to support Moscow’s war effort.
A US official who spoke to AFP confirmed the reports were true, while representatives of the State Department, the White House and the Pentagon declined to comment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has persistently demanded Washington’s permission to use ATACMS missile systems to attack targets on Russian territory.
US newspapers report that the change of position of the Biden administration was caused by the arrival of North Korean troops in Russia. Western intelligence reports indicate that approximately 10,000 soldiers are stationed there.
France and Great Britain, following the change of position of the United States, have allowed Ukraine to use the long-range missiles “SCALP” and “Storm Shadow” supplied to it to attack Russian territory, the French newspaper “Le Figaro” reports, without providing further details.
“France and Great Britain have allowed Ukraine to attack deep into Russian territory using their SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles,” the publication writes.
France and Britain held back from authorizing their use against targets inside Russia without US approval for ATACMS use.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has refused to supply Ukraine with Taurus missiles, which have a range of more than 500 kilometers, fearing that they could be launched against targets on Russian territory.
Source: www.diena.lv
