The Russia-Ukraine war is the largest and deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II.
New Delhi: Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, thus marking a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War which started in 2014. Now, more than two years later, Russia has reportedly inflicted massive damages to the Ukrainian military both in terms of men and equipment. Ukraine is also struggling with the alarmingly dwindling numbers of soldiers in its ranks.
Amidst this, the transition of power has taken place in the United States as Joe Biden is making way for Donald Trump.
President Joe Biden was in full charge of the White House when this invasion took place and now he has authorised Ukraine to use American “Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS)” long-range missiles for strikes within Russian territory, marking a significant shift from his previous focus on conflict reduction.
After this, Donald Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. has alleged that the Biden administration was using US support for Ukraine as a means to initiate a major conflict before his father returns to the presidency in on January 20, 2025.
Biden’s authorization has given a go ahead to Kyiv to deploy these US made ATACMS in the Kursk region, located along the northeastern border between Russia and Ukraine. These missiles with significant explosive power and a range of around 190 miles are likely to be used in strategic strikes against Russia.
Following significant military setbacks, Ukraine has been imploring America’s permission to use its missiles and following Biden’s approval, expressed readiness to deploy the newly authorized weapons.
Reacting to this situation, China, on Monday, 18 November 2024 has appealed for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing war. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian urged “the cooling down of the situation as soon as possible,” emphasizing the need for “an early ceasefire and a political solution” during a regular briefing, AFP reported.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russia launched a large-scale assault on Ukraine, firing a total of 120 missiles and 90 drones. The attack included various types of drones, including Iranian-made Shaheds, as well as cruise, ballistic, and aircraft-launched missiles.
The Russia-Ukraine war is the largest and deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II. It has caused thousands of military casualties and tens of thousands of civilian casualties on both sides.
(With Agency inputs)