Joe Biden has allowed Ukraine to strike inside Russia with long-range US missiles, prompting dire warnings from Moscow. The Kremlin has accused Washington of adding “fuel to the fire” and trying to escalate the conflict.
Monday 18 November 2024 21:25, UK
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Is allowing Ukraine to fire long-range American missiles deep into Russia a game-changer?
International correspondent Alex Rossi takes a look at the ATACMS rockets being approved for use and what their impact could be.
“On the face of it, it’s a big military edge, but the Russians are already responding by moving hardware and personnel out of range,” he says.
But, Rossi adds, Ukraine could use them to repel an anticipated counteroffensive in Kursk, where Ukraine captured Russian territory in August.
“President Biden’s decision will likely see the British government follow suit,” continues Rossi.
Watch his full analysis here…
Donald Trump’s pick for national security adviser says allowing Ukraine to use US long-range missiles against Russian territory threatens to escalate the war.
Michael Waltz called Joe Biden’s decision “another step up the escalation ladder” in an interview on Fox.
He will be in charge of US weapons headed for Ukraine and tackling the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea when Mr Trump enters the White House in January.
“Nobody knows where this is going. North Korea is unleashing ballistic missiles, artillery, and now tens of thousands of soldiers,” said Mr Waltz.
“The [Biden] administration responds by lifting this restriction. North Korea sends more soldiers. South Korea is now saying it may get engaged.”
He spoke about Mr Trump getting “both sides to the table” to end the war – despite Vladimir Putin signalling any negotiation would mean Russia keeping the land it has occupied in its invasion.
Who is Michael Waltz?
Mr Waltz is a three-term Republican congressman and retired Army National Guard officer, making him one of Trump’s more conventional defence picks.
By contrast, Mr Trump has chosen Pete Hegseth, a Fox News weekend co-host with no Pentagon experience, for secretary of defence.
Former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has been nominated to lead America’s intelligence community, despite being embraced by Kremlin allies for her dovish views on the war.
Two children were killed in a Russian attack on a high-rise residential building yesterday, reports local news outlet Ukrainska Pravda.
Ilya, aged nine, and Anastasia, 14, were among 11 killed by the ballistic missile blast in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine.
The boy’s father had already buried his brother, Evgeny, who was killed on the frontline.
Ilya’s school said: “This terrible event was a great shock for our entire school family. Ilya was a kind and bright child.
“His energy and sincerity will remain in our memory forever. The bright memory of Ilya will always be in our hearts.”
Anastasia’s school said: “There are no words to express everything that each of us is feeling right now. Sadness, pain, sorrow.”
The Finnish and German governments say European security is under threat from “malicious actors” carrying out “hybrid warfare” after a Baltic undersea cable was severed.
An investigation has been launched after a Finnish state-controlled cyber security telecoms company, Cinia, said an outside force may be responsible for cutting the 745-mile fibre optic communications cable linking the two countries.
The Finnish and German foreign ministries said in a joint statement they were “deeply concerned”.
“Our European security is not only under threat from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, but also from hybrid warfare by malicious actors,” they said.
“Safeguarding our shared critical infrastructure is vital to our security and the resilience of our societies.”
Swedish public service broadcaster SVT reported that Swedish authorities were also investigating damage to a communications cable running between Lithuania and Sweden, close to the one that was severed.
The news of Joe Biden’s permission for Ukraine to fire long-range US missiles into Russia continues to dominate headlines.
Military analyst Sean Bell explains the likely targets would be logistics hubs and airfields, given the need for satellite technology to view targets from 200 miles away.
The Russians have already moved their fighter jets outside of that radius, meaning it will be “a lot more difficult” to launch air raids over Ukraine, said Bell.
Watch Bell’s full analysis here, including how he expects Vladimir Putin to respond…
Defence Secretary John Healey has said he will speak with the US and Ukrainian defence secretaries this evening.
He declined to share the UK’s stance on the US permitting Ukraine to use its long-range missiles to strike Russian territory, telling the House of Commons commenting would “compromise operations and security”.
“We must double down on the support for Ukraine, give Ukraine the support it needs, and do so for as long as it takes,” he added.
At the G20 Summit in Brazil, Sir Keir Starmer gave a similar answer when asked if he would permit Ukrainian use of the UK’s Storm Shadow missiles to hit Russia.
“I’m not going to get into operational details because the only winner, if we were to do that, is Putin, and I’m not prepared to do that.”
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said the Tories would support such a move.
Russia says any use of long-range missiles to attack its territory would constitute a “radical change” in the war provoking an “appropriate and tangible” response.
The comments made by a foreign ministry spokesperson come after Joe Biden lifted a ban on Ukraine striking inside Russia with long-range US missiles, according to our partner network NBC News.
Ukraine plans to conduct its first long-range attacks in the coming days, US sources said.
The Russian foreign ministry said such an action would fundamentally alter the nature of the war and trigger a response.
Olaf Scholz’s call with Vladimir Putin was a “strategic mistake” that weakened European unity, the Estonian foreign minister has said.
Scholz held a one-hour call with Putin on Friday – his first direct communication with Russia’s leader in almost two years.
He defended the call as a way to make clear to Mr Putin that German, European and other support for Ukraine would not wane.
But Margus Tsahkna, whose Baltic nation is one of Ukraine’s most vocal supporters, said the call had damaged Western efforts to isolate the Russian president.
“It was a strategic mistake,” he said.
“We have had a principle agreed that we keep Putin in isolation.”
He pointed out that Russia mounted one of its most severe attacks on Ukraine in months in the days after the call.
“It just weakened our unity and our positions.”
Lithuanian foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis also voiced scepticism about the call, saying such a move had to come from a position of strength, not weakness, or “the Russians will abuse it”.
“They clearly are doing exactly that with the massive new rocket barrages against Ukraine’s civil infrastructure, against energy,” he said.
As the conflict in Ukraine nears its 1,000th day, the war could be about to shift.
President Joe Biden’s approval for Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia with long-range US missiles has sparked fears of escalation, with fury in Moscow.
Vladimir Putin has previously called the move “an unacceptable red line”, as Western leaders, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the G20, weigh their next steps.
Daily host Niall Paterson explores whether this moment marks a turning point for Ukraine, or the brink of something far worse.
Ivor Bennett, our Moscow correspondent, and defence analyst Tim Ripley join Niall to discuss why these missiles could change the course of the war.
The Slovak prime minister has joined Hungary (see 14.40 post) in strongly opposing Washington’s decision to allow Ukraine to use long-range US-supplied weapons in strikes against Russia
Robert Fico said the move aimed to thwart or delay peace negotiations.
“This is an unprecedented escalation of tensions, a decision that thwarts hopes for the start of any peace talks and an end to the mutual killing of Slavs in Ukraine,” he said.
Fico is another European leader who has fostered a stronger relationship with Vladimir Putin.
His nationalist government immediately halted military supplies to Kyiv after taking office a year ago and has argued that weapons deliveries are prolonging the conflict.
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free