BRATISLAVA, November 20. /TASS/. The decision by outgoing US President Joe Biden's administration to authorize strikes using US weapons deep inside Russian territory is utterly irresponsible, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico told reporters.

"The current US administration has made an absolutely irresponsible decision," Fico stated. "This marks an escalation of international tensions," he added, emphasizing that the West is reluctant to resolve the Ukraine conflict.

Fico stressed that Slovakia, as a neighboring country to Ukraine, has a strong interest in achieving peace there as quickly as possible. He also noted that authorizing the use of long-range weapons for strikes against Russia would not alter the balance of power in the conflict zone.

Fico also remarked that the Russian economy continues to function effectively despite Western sanctions, with public support for the Russian leadership remaining strong. He concluded by saying that the European Union should adopt an independent stance on Ukraine rather than simply follow Washington's lead.

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 inside Russia. According to The Times, the decision was made in Washington three days before it leaked to the media.

On Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Ukraine struck the Bryansk Region on the night of November 19 with ATACMS missiles, five of which were shot down by Pantsir and S-400 systems. Another missile was damaged. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, commenting on the incident at a press conference following his participation in the G20 Summit, said that the strikes on the region were a signal that the West wanted to escalate the situation.