“I don’t think much about Vladimir Putin.” This was Joe Biden’s dry response on Friday, September 13, to a journalist who questioned him at the White House, while he was receiving British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The day before, the Russian president had reacted to rumors that the United States had given the green light to deep missile strikes, launched by Ukraine from Russia itself; according to him, such a decision “It would mean that NATO countries, the United States and European countries are at war with Russia.” Despite Joe Biden’s indifferent statement, Western foreign ministries are not taking this warning lightly.
One of kyiv’s persistent demands is the use of missiles called Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS). Washington is not enthusiastic. Trained in the Cold War, Joe Biden has always been driven by fear of escalation with Russia, whether nuclear or more traditional.
The Pentagon also insists that no weapon is decisive on its own and that Ukraine’s main problem is its ability to mobilize its people. Finally, the White House would like to see neither side attack its energy infrastructure, which would imply a kind of moratorium between the warring parties.
Before Keir Starmer’s visit, several American media outlets reported the Biden administration’s intention to authorise these strikes, but without American missiles, allowing Kiev to use the British Storm Shadow (or Scalp in France). But the White House said on Friday that its position had not changed at this time.
Discussions could continue in New York, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, will go there to present to Joe Biden, but also to Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, a plan aimed at moving towards peace. For now, his frustration is expressed by the long-range missiles. “It is difficult to repeatedly hear “we are working on it” while Putin continues to burn our cities and towns”Zelensky wrote on Friday in the X.
Annoyance of the allies
It is exactly this kind of public pressure that is causing anger among allies. They believe that Ukraine’s diplomacy is more noise than effect, particularly with countries in the “Global South.” Too many initiatives and conferences and not enough discreet work on a possible political solution to the conflict.
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