Outgoing US President Joe Biden has reportedly authorised Ukraine’s use of US long-range missiles to attack the Russian mainland.

This could lead to an escalation of the conflict two months before Donald Trump takes office. Trump takes office with a mandate to seek a peaceful solution.

With two months left in his presidency, the president for the first time authorised the Ukrainian military to use the so-called ATACMS system to defend its forces in the Kursk region of Russia, according to the New York Times.

The weapons are likely to be used initially against Russian and North Korean troops in the defence of Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region of western Russia, the officials said.

Biden’s decision is a major shift in US policy. The election has divided his advisers, and the shift comes two months before President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office, having pledged to limit further aid to Ukraine

The decision has been made after it became known that Russian forces will bring troops from North Korea into the war.

Ukraine’s President Volodomyr Zelenskyj has not confirmed the authorisation, but clearly believes that it is not enough anyway. The most important thing is that the massive arms deliveries continue, and preferably at a faster pace, says Zelensky.

– Today, many in the media are talking about the fact that we have been authorised to take appropriate measures,” Zelensky said in his evening speech.

– But blows are not dealt with words. Such things are not announced. The rockets speak for themselves.

The apparent U-turn by the Biden administration could be seen as an attempt to undermine the peace efforts of incoming President Donald Trump, who has already initiated unofficial diplomatic measures to fulfil his pledge to negotiate an end to the war.

Pressure on Europe

EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell criticised EU countries’ unwillingness to adequately support Ukraine in its war against Russia.

On his way into his final meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels, Borrell took the opportunity to vent some of his frustrations.

– The EU must learn to use the language of power. This is even more important today than it was five years ago, he says.

Now he hopes that the US yes can put pressure on the EU.

Germany’s Chancellor recently spoke to Vladimir Putin over the phone, something for which he has been criticised by Brussels. Germany is among the countries that have so far refused to allow Ukraine to use weapons supplied by Germany to attack targets on Russian soil.

But German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock referred to the issue as “important” on her way into the foreign ministers’ meeting.

– The US decision, which is not a change of mind but an intensification of what has already been delivered, is very important, she said.

At the foreign affairs meeting, EU countries were also drafting a 15th sanctions package against Russia, which is likely to include targeted sanctions against Russia’s “shadow fleet” that carries Russian oil in violation of international sanctions, a senior EU diplomat said before the weekend.

Borrell also asked EU to cut off all dialogue with Israel.