BERLIN, November 18. /TASS/. Nils Schmid, a lawmaker specializing in foreign policy at the Bundestag faction of Germany’s Social Democratic Party, said he believes that Washington's move to allow deeper strikes inside Russia with long-range weapons was driven by US domestic politics.

"President [Joe] Biden's decision has domestic political reasons," he told the Rheinische Post newspaper.

According to the lawmaker, outgoing US president seeks to demonstrate "unwavering support" for Ukraine and make it more difficult for US President-elect Donald Trump to possibly cut off aid to Kiev. Schmid also backed Chancellor Olaf Scholz's decision not to transfer Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. This policy is "not by accident," he said.

The New York Times reported on November 17, citing sources, that US President Joe Biden had authorized the use of US-supplied ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles for strikes deep inside Russia. The German government confirmed that the United States had informed Berlin of the decision to authorize deeper strikes inside Russia.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow’s position on strikes by US missiles deep inside Russian territory was clearly outlined by Russian President Vladimir Putin in September. According to Peskov, this decision marks a "qualitatively new round" of tensions.