“Analysts note that such a US authorization, if officially confirmed, will be a mild response to the escalating actions of Russia, which has engaged North Korean troops in hostilities”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
Analysts note that such US permission, if officially confirmed, will be a soft response to the escalating actions of Russia, which has engaged North Korean troops in hostilities.
“Putin’s presentation of North Korea as a new belligerent in his invasion of Ukraine became a major escalation. Permitting Ukraine to use US missiles against legitimate military targets on the territory of Russia, according to all international laws and the laws of armed conflict, is a very limited response and cannot be characterized as escalation,” the ISW emphasized.
On November 18, Kremlin spokesman Dmytro Peskov said that the United States was “adding fuel to the fire” and that the US authorization of Ukrainian ATACMS strikes against Russian military targets would be “a qualitatively new round of tensions” and a “qualitative” change in US participation in the war.
Peskov repeated Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statement from September 12 that Ukrainian strikes against the Russian Federation using weapons provided by the West would mean an escalation and direct involvement of Western countries in the war. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also echoed Putin’s September statements and noted that Ukraine’s long-range missile strikes on Russia would be a “radical change in the nature and character” of the war and that Russia’s response would be “adequate and tangible.”
ISW notes that Russia has not previously escalated military escalation following any alleged violations of Russian “red lines” by the West.
Also, according to researchers, the Kremlin continues to declare its reluctance to make any compromises, including those that would “freeze” the conflict on the current front line, which once again demonstrates the Kremlin’s desire for the complete surrender of Ukraine. According to them, this is evidenced by the reaction of the spokesman of the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Peskov, to the peace proposals of the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“ISW regularly states that the Kremlin’s goal of a full surrender of Ukraine remains unchanged, and Peskov’s comments further demonstrate that the Russian authorities are unwilling to engage in good faith negotiations that would lead to compromises, even on terms unfavorable to Ukraine, such as a freeze on the conflict . ISW continues to believe that a negotiated ceasefire on current lines will only benefit Russia and give the Kremlin time to further radicalize and militarize Russian society against Ukraine, and time for the Russian military to rest and recuperate, likely before a future attack on Ukraine.” – analysts say.
On November 18, Bloomberg reported that Erdogan intends to announce his plan to freeze the Russian-Ukrainian war at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 18. The Turkish president’s proposal envisages the creation of a demilitarized zone in Donbas and the deployment of international troops there. According to Erdogan’s plan, Ukraine will postpone the discussion of joining NATO for at least 10 years, sources told the agency.
The Kremlin called this proposal unacceptable.