Biden surprises with Ukraine pledge ahead of G20 summit in Rio
Published: Monday, Nov 18th 2024, 01:30
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US President Joe Biden arrives at the G20 summit in Brazil with a surprising promise for Ukraine, which is under attack from Russia. According to media reports, Biden has given Ukraine permission to use long-range missiles against certain targets in Russia. This initially concerns the defense of Ukrainian-held territories in the Kursk region of western Russia. The US government's about-turn so shortly before the summit is remarkable. Germany could now also come under pressure: The American decision is likely to reignite the debate about the Taurus cruise missile. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) rejects a Taurus delivery to the Ukraine.
Trump's return to the White House casts a shadow ahead
The meeting of the heads of state and government of leading economic powers (G20) begins today in the Brazilian metropolis of Rio de Janeiro. It is probably Biden's last major international meeting as US President. In January, his designated successor Donald Trump will move into the White House. The Republican is a major opponent of Biden's policies - and has repeatedly questioned the billions in US aid for Ukraine. He has announced that he wants to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours - although he has left open how. Trump is likely to undo many of Biden's achievements.
This is why Biden is actually considered a "lame duck" at the summit - because the 81-year-old cannot make any far-reaching promises. With his commitment to Ukraine, Biden has now at least reshuffled the cards a little in Rio. According to the "Washington Post", the White House wants to put Ukraine in the best possible position for the peace talks with the approval. It is also a reaction to the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers in the region.
Previously, the exception only applied to Kharkiv
Specifically, according to the reports, it is about permission to use missiles for the long-range ATACMS artillery system. The weapons will probably initially be used against Russian and North Korean troops to defend the Ukrainian armed forces in the Kursk region in western Russia. A counter-offensive by Moscow is looming there. When asked about the reports, neither the White House nor the Pentagon wanted to comment on the reports.
Until now, the USA has limited the use of its weapons against Russia to defending against the Russian offensive against the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. Here, the USA has permitted the use of the Himars missile launcher system. Ukraine has long been requesting the release of long-range US-made weapons for use on Russian territory. Kiev argues that this is the only way to reach Russian military airports from which fighter jets can take off to drop glide bombs or fire missiles at Ukrainian targets.
Debate about German Taurus cruise missile
The ATACMS missiles previously provided by Washington have a range of just over 300 kilometers. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has admitted in the past that the Russian military has been moving its fighter jets to other, more distant airfields for some time. This means that many strategic targets in Russia cannot be reached even with these weapons.
Targets in Moscow, around 450 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, can only be reached with other weapons such as the German Taurus cruise missile with a range of around 500 kilometers. However, Chancellor Scholz has so far clearly ruled out the delivery of this precision weapon, arguing that it could be used to hit the Kremlin.
Greens, FDP and CDU/CSU in favor of Taurus delivery
The Greens' leading candidate Robert Habeck, on the other hand, has announced that he would deliver Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine if elected head of government. The FDP is considering bringing about a vote on the Taurus in the Bundestag following the coalition's exit. The CDU/CSU is also in favor of the delivery.
The longest-range weapon supplied by Germany to Ukraine to date is the Mars II rocket launcher, which can hit targets at a distance of 84 kilometers. For a limited area around Kharkiv, the German government has also permitted the use of this weapon or the Panzerhaubitze 2000 with a range of 56 kilometers against targets on Russian soil.
Putin and Selensky missing in Rio
It is now unclear whether the US has been allowing Kiev to deploy long-range missiles for some time - but may have only communicated this now. Even before his Democrats lost the election, the US President had promised to increase aid for Ukraine. This is also about his legacy. Under Biden, the USA is Ukraine's most important ally and largest arms supplier in its defensive struggle against Russia. The Democrat has staunchly backed Ukraine and received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington on several occasions.
However, Selenskyj has not been invited to the G20 summit in Rio. Host and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said that the G20 summit would not be a place to discuss the war between Russia and Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the other hand, has canceled his participation in the summit - as he did in the past two years following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov traveled to Rio instead. His arrival in Rio coincided with the publication of the reports on the US decision.
Moscow's foreign office spokeswoman Maria Zakharova did not want to comment on the reports and pointed out that President Putin had already said everything. He had threatened in September that allowing the use of long-range missiles against targets on Russian territory would mean NATO's involvement in the war.
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