TOKYO, November 21. /TASS/. The whole world needs to condemn US President Joe Biden’s decision to authorize the use of ATACMS missiles for strikes inside Russia, Muneo Suzuki, a member of Japan’s upper house of parliament, told TASS.
"The whole world should express its outrage at it," he said, describing Biden’s decision as "dangerous and provocative."
Meanwhile, Japanese officials have been avoiding direct comments on the issue, saying they "are closely following the situation."
The New York Times reported on November 17, citing sources, that Biden had authorized the use of US-supplied ATACMS missiles to launch attacks inside Russia from Ukraine. Meanwhile, the US administration has not made any official statements to either confirm or deny these reports. Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell, in turn, said that some European Union countries had also allowed Ukraine to use their weapons for strikes deep inside Russia. Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned on November 19 that Moscow’s revised nuclear doctrine provided for a nuclear response to the use of Western non-nuclear missiles against Russia. Earlier, Peskov noted that Western countries’ decision indicated "a qualitatively new phase" of tensions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on September 12 that the potential decision to use Western long-range missiles against Russia would mean the United States’ and other NATO countries’ direct involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. This step would change the very nature of the conflict and Russia would have to make decisions proceeding from the threats it will face, the president warned. Putin emphasized that Ukraine was unable to strike inside Russia without the West’s assistance because it would require intelligence data from satellites and flight assignments.