Republicans have blasted Biden’s decision to allow Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied long-range ATACMS missiles to strike targets inside Russia.
The Biden administration for months placed hard limits on how Ukraine could use U.S. weaponry for fear of involving NATO and the U.S. more directly in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but officials told The Associated Press on Sunday a new policy was being enacted.
With permission from the U.S., Ukraine fired a barrage of six ATACMS missiles Tuesday. At least some of those missiles hit a Russian ammunition depot located about 70 miles inside Russia, according to a Reuters story.
Russian President Vladimir Putin released a statement in September warning that assistance from any country that allowed Ukraine to fire on Russian soil would mean that “NATO countries – the United States and European countries – are at war with Russia.”
On Monday, he referred journalists to his previous warning from two months ago.
The Kremlin reacted the same day saying Biden’s decision adds “fuel to the fire.”
That description is certainly how Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) sees it. He called Biden's actions "absolutely reckless" from the same man whose political party didn't trust him to continue a re-election campaign.
"Now here he is potentially leading us down the path to World War III, with just weeks to go in his presidency. It is unbelievably reckless and irresponsible,” Hawley told Fox News this week.
Biden used 'dangerous' and 'questionable' judgement
Until now, escalation of the conflict has come from Russia, Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pennsylvania) said on Washington Watch Tuesday.
The introduction of North Korean troops training in Russia to fight in Ukraine – some reports have put the number at 12,000 – the most recent provocative action, he said.
But Biden’s decision gives Putin some measure of moral high ground.
“I think that’s dangerous, that’s questionable judgment. I don’t know exactly what to make of Putin’s nuclear saber rattling, but I don’t think that’s something we want to take lightly for certain,” Perry told show host Tony Perkins.
Perry, a former U.S. Army helicopter pilot, flew more than 40 combat missions in Iraq. He now represents Pennsylvania's 10th District after retiring as a brigadier general in the Pennsylvania National Guard.
“Nuclear war is something you can barely talk about, let alone experience," Perry continued. "It’s been a long time since any of that was engaged, and for good reason, and I don’t think it’s anything to be trifled with."
Perry: Putin is in better position than NATO
While some U.S. lawmakers have criticized Biden, could it be that Putin’s response is simply to save face, that he is actually looking for an off ramp in the push toward an expanded conflict?
Perry doesn’t think so. “I think we’re looking for the off ramp more than [Putin] is, and that’s very concerning to me,” he said.
The biggest problem, from the U.S. perspective, is that Putin is feeling no pain.
“This hasn’t negatively affected his economy, it hasn’t negatively affected his popularity. That’s not the best negotiating place for the United States, Europe or Ukraine,” Perry said.
Charting Putin’s next move is a challenge.
“These things can turn very, very quickly. He might not want to gamble with that. He might want to leave while the getting is good, so to speak. We just don’t know exactly what’s in his heart right now or what his ultimate goal is,” Perry said.
Any de-escalation of the conflict is going to require compromise all around.
Perry said Putin needs to be held to his original stated concerns of Ukraine’s possible entry into NATO.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was established as a military alliance in 1949, safeguarding freedom and security for what is now 32 members from North America and Europe.
Russia, meanwhile, faces a line of NATO countries on its western flank, including some that joined after the Ukraine invasion.
“If we can get to a point where Ukraine can receive its territorial integrity back, and there’s a commitment to hold off on a NATO-involved Ukraine, I think that’s a place that will end the killing, allow Ukraine to progress and calm Russia’s fears down of having a neighbor right on their border that’s so adversarial-opposed to them,” Perry said.
Perry expressed doubt that Ukraine should be invited to join NATO.
Joining NATO has been a stated goal of the Ukraine government since 2017. Currently, NATO would like to know more about Ukraine’s plan for ending the war before considering it for membership.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought “accelerated” membership two years ago.
“Quite honestly, I don’t think Ukraine is ready to be a NATO-aligned nation. Furthermore, NATO needs to do more of its own work and shore up its own defenses instead of relying on the United States of America. I’m not sure we lose much in Ukraine not being a NATO-confirmed nation,” Perry said.
Inauguration Day is key on the calendar
Little movement is expected on the Ukraine-NATO question until after Donald Trump takes office in late January.
Whatever happens, Ukraine’s borders would need to be clearly demarcated before it could join, NATO diplomats told The Associated Press.
At roughly 950 days into the war, in October, Russia controlled approximately 20% of Ukraine after seizing some of its border areas.
“Ukraine wants their territorial integrity, and I support that. They should be a sovereign nation. That includes Crimea. Allegedly, at the beginning of this, Russia didn’t want Ukraine to be a NATO nation. I think that’s where the center of the discussion should be,” Perry said.
