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DNYUZ/New York Times: U.S. Warms to Helping Ukraine Target Crimea
WASHINGTON — For years, the United States has insisted that Crimea is still part of Ukraine. Yet the Biden administration has held to a hard line since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, refusing to provide Kyiv with the weapons it needs to target the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia has been using as a base for launching devastating strikes.
Now that line is starting to soften.
After months of discussions with Ukrainian officials, the Biden administration is finally starting to concede that Kyiv may need the power to strike the Russian sanctuary, even if such a move increases the risk of escalation, according to several U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive debate. Crimea, between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, is home to around 70,000 dug-in Russian troops and numerous Russian military bases.
Read more ….
Update #1: Joe Biden prepared to arm Ukraine to help recapture Crimea — The Telegraph
Update #2: New York Times: US warms to helping Ukraine regain Crimea — Kyiv Independent
Update #3: NYT: US Considering Helping Ukraine Strike Crimea (Antiwar.com)
WNU Editor: It looks like the US is getting ready to send long range missiles to Ukraine …. US “likely” to send long-range missiles to Ukraine (WSWS.org), even though the Pentagon is saying that this is not going to happen …. U.S. will not send long-range missiles called ATACMs to Ukraine at this time, Pentagon official says (NBC).
The Kremlin has already responded to these reports …. Kremlin: Ukrainian strikes on Crimea would be ‘extremely dangerous’ (Reuters). More here …. US encouraging terrorist acts against Russia – ambassador (RT).