Major NATO powers lukewarm on Biden’s Ukraine missiles U-turn – Bloomberg
Major NATO allies have expressed reservations following US President Joe Biden’s reported decision to allow Ukraine strike targets deep inside Russia using American-made long-range missiles.
The move – first published by the New York Times citing anonymous sources - is being seen as a significant shift in US policy but it has failed to galvanize broader Western support amid concerns over further escalation of the conflict.
Germany, France, and the UK, who all possess long-range missiles, have so far declined to repeat Washington’s offer despite Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky’s repeated pleas.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, speaking at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, underscored the need for caution.
“Many citizens in Germany are worried about security and peace in Europe,” Scholz told reporters, explaining why Berlin would not send Taurus missiles to Kiev. “As a result, I need to act prudently.”
Throughout the Ukraine conflict, Germany has often aligned itself with American decisions, such as coordinated tank deliveries in 2023 and allowing limited Ukrainian artillery strikes across Russia’s border earlier this year.
However, Scholz’s hesitance to escalate possibly reflects concerns about a potential retaliation and the impact of US President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration, which has signaled plans to limit support for Ukraine, Bloomberg has reported.
The French and British G20 delegations were similarly cautious. While British Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously indicated support for the supply of additional Storm Shadow missiles to Kiev, his advisers have refrained from confirming whether he would authorize strikes on internationally recognized Russian soil. A Ukrainian official noted that a lack of further Western European support would be a “massive disappointment” for Zelensky.
France has already provided a limited number of long-range missiles but has declined to clarify their intended use or discuss future deliveries. French officials, however, endorsed the US decision, even as Western European leaders grapple with uncertainty over Trump’s anticipated policy pivot toward diplomatic negotiations with Russia.
Trump’s proposed national security adviser, Mike Waltz, has dismissed the significance of Biden’s decision, emphasizing the incoming administration’s focus on brokering peace talks. “This is a development, but it’s a tactical one,” Waltz told Fox News. “President Trump is talking grand strategy here.”
