Why Biden allowed strikes deep into Russia: Portnikov named two reasons
The journalist also commented on whether Russia could really use nuclear weapons in response to these strikes.
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Joe Biden. / Photo: Associated Press
U.S. President Joe Biden has finally decided to allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory using long-range American weapons, possibly for two key reasons.
Ukrainian journalist Vitaliy Portnikov shared this in an interview with "Radio Svoboda".
“Perhaps it was a reaction to North Korean troops. Or maybe the idea was to give Ukraine stronger negotiating positions with Russia under Donald Trump’s presidency, so Ukraine would not approach those negotiations as a victim forced to accept any terms from the aggressor,” the journalist suggested.
Portnikov recalled that he had previously warned: if a decision to allow strikes deep into Russian territory were made, it would come after, not before, the U.S. presidential elections. The issue was too sensitive during the electoral process.
He mentioned Donald Trump’s statements accusing the Biden-Harris administration of dragging the U.S. into World War III. Trump’s team continues to use these arguments today, Portnikov noted.
Will Russia use nuclear weapons in response to these strikes?
“On the other hand, we don’t know the parameters of this decision - how many missiles, within what timeframe they will be delivered, or whether they will target areas like Kursk or deeper Russian territory. It’s a puzzle with many unknowns, as is the question of Russia’s reaction. Moscow has stated that missile strikes on its territory could lead to the use of nuclear weapons,” Portnikov said.
At the same time, he highlighted that Ukraine had previously struck the occupied territories, that Russia considered its own, using Western weapons.
According to the journalist, this demonstrates that Moscow does not recognize its own "constitution," as it implies the existence of a "first-class" and "second-class" Russia.
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