Last week, Ukraine experienced the most significant escalation of hostilities since Russia’s full-scale invasion, beginning a new chapter in a nearly three-year war steeped in uncertainty and fear.
The situation began after US President Joe Biden reversed a long-standing policy of giving Kiev permission to deploy long-range US missiles inside Russian territory, and Russia is using new experimental ballistic weapons to attack Ukraine. This ended in an attack on the United States, which alarmed the international community and raised concerns about further escalation.
Here is an overview of the week’s events in Ukraine that fundamentally changed the fate of the war.
Sunday: US authorizes attack using US long-range weapons
The range that Ukraine could strike with the U.S.-made Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) after the U.S. government ruled out such a move for months over concerns about escalating the conflict and provoking direct confrontation between Russia and NATO. restrictions have been relaxed.
The change comes as the United States, South Korea and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have been sent to help Moscow expel Ukrainian forces from Russia’s Kursk region, where North Korean troops are stationed inside Russia. This happened after the announcement. However, the scope of the new shooting guidelines was not clear.
Monday: Russia warns of escalation if Western weapons are used on its territory
The Kremlin warned that Biden’s decision would further escalate international tensions.
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “It is clear that the outgoing Washington administration intends to continue adding fuel to the fire and take steps that will cause a further escalation of tensions over this conflict, and they have been discussing this.” ” he said.
Tuesday: Ukraine fires a long-range U.S. missile at Russia for the first time. Putin lowers standards for nuclear attack
According to widespread reports, Ukraine fired several ATACMS and struck an ammunition depot in Russia’s Bryansk region, but it was the first time Kiev had used the weapon inside enemy territory. Ukrainian authorities have not officially acknowledged the attack, which occurred 1,000 days after the invasion.
Also on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin formally lowered the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons, opening the door to the possibility that Moscow could launch a nuclear response even in response to a conventional attack by a country backed by a nuclear-weapon state. This could include a U.S.-backed attack on Ukraine.
NBC’s Keir Simmons reports that President Vladimir Putin has lowered the threshold for Russia’s use of nuclear weapons, allowing Ukraine to attack targets inside Russian territory with long-range missiles provided by the United States. The move follows President Joe Biden’s decision to do so.
Wednesday: US approves supply of anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine
In a second major shift in U.S. policy, the Biden administration announced it would provide anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine to slow Russia’s advance into the battlefield. Biden previously held off on signing the deal, citing international opposition to the use of landmines due to the danger they pose to civilians. Russia deploys them freely.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said a shift in U.S. policy is needed to counter Russia’s changing tactics.
Ukraine also used Britain’s Storm Shadow missile, which is equivalent to the ATACMS system, to attack targets inside Russia, further troubling the Russian government.
The US and several other Western embassies in Kiev have temporarily closed following the threat of a possible major air raid by Russia on the Ukrainian capital.
Thursday: Russia uses new experimental ballistic missile for the first time
President Putin said the Kremlin had launched a new intermediate-range ballistic missile toward Ukraine in response to Kiev’s use of missiles by the United States and Britain.
In a televised address to his country, the Russian president warned that U.S. air defense systems would be powerless to stop a new missile that flies at 10 times the speed of sound. I called it. About Russia’s RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile, which can carry a nuclear warhead.
Putin said the missiles could also be used to attack Ukraine’s allies, which are using the missiles to attack Russia. The Russian government has given Washington a 30-minute warning about the attack on a weapons factory in Dnipropetrovsk, central Ukraine.
Friday: NATO convenes emergency meeting as Ukraine’s parliament adjourns
NATO and Ukraine are scheduled for emergency talks on Tuesday, the alliance announced. The meeting will be held at Ukraine’s request and will be convened at ambassador level.
Ukraine’s parliament also canceled its session due to increased security in the city. Lawmakers said there was a credible threat of an attack on government buildings.
Ukraine’s partners exchanged views on the dangerous new phase of the conflict. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the conflict had “entered a decisive stage” and was “in a very dramatic phase.”
Saturday: President Zelenskiy says he believes the war could end next year
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that he believed the war could end in 2025.
“There are appropriate measures for this, and they are included in our peace formula,” he told reporters attending the international conference on food security “Grain from Ukraine” in Kiev. “We know that Russia will not take all these measures,” he said. But there is a United Nations Charter, and we want all initiatives based on the United Nations Charter to be supported by our partners. ”
“We are open. And by the way, again, to the leaders of African countries, Asian countries, Arab countries… we are ready to look at their proposals,” he said. Proposal of the new president of the United States. I believe these proposals will be announced in January. And I think there is a plan to end this war. ”
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