WASHINGTON, November 20. /TASS/. NATO has entered the conflict in Ukraine when US President Joe Biden made the decision to authorize the use of US weapons for deep strikes on Russia, so now Moscow has "every right" to attack NATO targets, a leading US military expert has told TASS.

Col. (Ret.) Lawrence Wilkerson, the Chief of Staff to US Secretary of State Colin Powell (in 2002-2005), confirmed to TASS that the launch of ATACMS missiles would be impossible without "US/NATO satellite feeds and/or personnel."

"[Russian President Vladimir] Putin and [Foreign Minister Sergey] Lavrov have been explicit — and correct [on the subject]," he said. "US/NATO satellite feeds and/or personnel are needed to fire these missiles; therefore, NATO has entered the war. So, Russia has every right under international law to attack NATO targets now."

Wilkerson served 31 years in the US Army before serving at the State Department. In 1989-1993, he was a special assistant to Powell, when he was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989-93). In 2002-2005, he served as the Chief of Staff to US Secretary of State.

On November 17, the New York Times reported, citing sources, that US President Joe Biden allowed Ukraine to use ATACMS missiles for deeper strikes inside Russia. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian Nichols later confirmed this information. Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell said some EU countries also authorized the use of their weapons for deeper strikes inside Russia. Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov warned afterward that Russia’s updated nuclear doctrine stipulates a potential nuclear strike in response to Ukraine’s use of Western-made conventional missiles against Russia. Earlier, he described the West’s latest decision as a "qualitatively new" round of escalation.