The Biden administration has already decided to allow Ukraine to use U.S.-provided weapons to strike targets deep within Russian territory and any hesitancy is merely political camouflage, a Kremlin spokesman said Thursday.
The White House is close to an agreement to provide Ukraine with the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile that could “significantly alter” the ongoing conflict with Russia, according to Reuters. It has a range of about 230 miles, or more than 570 miles if Kyiv receives the extended-range version.
The JASSM can be launched from an F-16 Fighting Falcon, which the U.S. and other NATO allies are in the process of providing to Ukraine.
The Biden administration has restricted the use of U.S.-provided weapons to Russian targets within Ukrainian territory or near the border. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said allowing Kyiv to strike Russian targets with foreign weapons would increase the involvement of Ukraine’s allies in the conflict.
“The process has started, there is a camouflage discussion going on. It is obvious that the decision was made a long time ago,” said Mr. Peskov, according to the Kremlin-controlled Izvestia newspaper. “Ukraine will continue these terrorist attacks and, with a high degree of certainty, we can assume that they will try to hit social facilities.”
But Iran’s decision to provide Russia with ballistic missiles was what British Foreign Secretary David Lammy called a “significant and dangerous escalation” and seems to have altered strategic thinking in Washington.
On Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Kremlin is escalating its attacks on civilian as well as military targets inside Ukraine.
“This action of Russia acquiring ballistic missiles from Iran will further empower their aggression in Ukraine,” Mr. Blinken said. “So if anyone is taking escalatory action, it would appear to be Mr. Putin and Russia.”
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.
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