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Biden’s decision to allow strikes on Russia fails to unite allies around Kiev — Bloomberg

The German leadership declined to follow the US’ example on long-range missiles, the news agency recalled

NEW YORK, November 19. /TASS/. US President Joe Biden’s authorization to launch strikes with long-range missiles from Ukrainian territory deep inside Russia has not been sufficient to unite Kiev’s allies, Bloomberg reported.

According to the news agency, Biden has "failed to galvanize broader allied support" for the Kiev regime. For example, the German leadership declined to follow the US’ example on long-range missiles. The French and UK delegations at the Group of 20 summit in Rio de Janeiro were hesitant about their position on this issue. For instance, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s advisers declined to comment on their policy regarding the Kiev regime’s use of British-made Storm Shadow missiles.

The New York Times reported on November 17 that US President Joe Biden had authorized the use of US-supplied ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles for strikes inside Russia. Later, France’s Le Figaro reported that France and the United Kingdom had joined the US and allowed Ukraine to use their SCALP and Storm Shadow missiles for these purposes. However, the newspaper later retracted this article from its website without providing any explanation. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that Paris had not modified its stance on strikes inside Russia.

The German government said that the United States had notified Berlin of Biden’s decision. Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell confirmed that the US had lifted restrictions on US-supplied missiles, permitting them to strike up to 300 kilometers into Russian territory. He explained that the matter had been discussed at an EU foreign ministers’ meeting, but no common decision was reached, with each member state to make its own determination.

The White House has not confirmed that the US administration gave the permission to deliver strikes with ATACMS missiles deep inside Russian territory.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Moscow had clearly outlined its stance on US missile strikes inside Russia, as stated by President Vladimir Putin in September. The Kremlin official emphasized that Washington’s decision marked "a qualitatively new phase" of tensions.