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WWIII Watch: Biden Reportedly Approves Ukraine Long-Range Missile Strikes in Russia Before Trump Comes to Power

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Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden has reportedly approved the use of long-range American missiles by Ukraine to strike within the Russian mainland, in a move which may escalate the conflict two months before President-Elect Donald Trump comes into office with a mandate to seek a peace settlement.

According to reports from the Democrat-aligned Washington Post and New York Times newspapers, both citing unnamed U.S. officials, lame-duck President Joe Biden has lifted restrictions barring Ukraine from using American Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles to strike targets within Russia.

The Biden White House previously approved the use of ATACMS by Kyiv to strike Russian targets within Ukrainian territory, including Russian-occupied lands such as Crimea, which was illegally annexed by Moscow under the Obama administration in 2014. The Biden administration had also approved the use of shorter-range American missiles for limited cross-border strikes within Russia.

However, President Biden had been hesitant to permit the Ukrainians to use ATACMS within Russia for fear of escalating the conflict, with reported concerns over the world’s largest nuclear power potentially using more powerful weapons within Ukraine, Moscow increasing assistance to American adversaries such as the Islamist regime in Iran or to the Houthi terrorists in Yemen in their quest to disrupt global shipping.

The apparent about-face from the Biden administration may be seen as an attempt to undermine peace efforts by incoming President Donald Trump, who has already embarked upon unofficial diplomatic efforts to fulfil his promise of negotiating an end to the war. (Read more from “WWIII Watch: Biden Reportedly Approves Ukraine Long-Range Missile Strikes in Russia Before Trump Comes to Power” HERE)

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Ukraine’s Plan for International Suicide: Zelensky May Build a Nuke If Trump Doesn’t Support War

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Ukraine could develop a rudimentary nuclear bomb within months if Donald Trump withdraws US military assistance, according to a briefing paper prepared for the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence.

The country would quickly be able to build a basic device from plutonium with a similar technology to the “Fat Man” bomb dropped on Nagasaki in 1945, the report states. “Creating a simple atomic bomb, as the United States did within the framework of the Manhattan Project, would not be a difficult task 80 years later,” the document reads.

With no time to build and run the large facilities required to enrich uranium, wartime Ukraine would have to rely instead on using plutonium extracted from spent fuel rods taken from Ukraine’s nuclear reactors.

Ukraine still controls nine operational reactors and has significant nuclear expertise despite having given up the world’s third largest nuclear arsenal in 1996. The report says: “The weight of reactor plutonium available to Ukraine can be estimated at seven tons … A significant nuclear weapons arsenal would require much less material … the amount of material is sufficient for hundreds of warheads with a tactical yield of several kilotons.” . . .

“That would be enough to destroy an entire Russian airbase or concentrated military, industrial or logistics installations. The exact nuclear yield would be unpredictable because it would use different isotopes of plutonium,” said the report’s author, Oleksii Yizhak, head of department at Ukraine’s National Institute for Strategic Studies, a government research centre that acts as an advisory body to the presidential office and the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine. (Read more from “Ukraine’s Plan for International Suicide: Zelensky May Build a Nuke If Trump Doesn’t Support War” HERE)

Blinken Assures NATO Biden Will Funnel Billions to Ukraine Prior to Trump Return

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Outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken began a farewell visit to the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Brussels, Belgium, on Wednesday in which he repeatedly insisted that President Joe Biden would “push every dollar out the door that we have at our disposal” to Ukraine.

Blinken met with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and Ukraine’s newly minted foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, asserting that the Biden’s administration secured $8 billion in Ukraine spending in September and would continue to find way to supply Ukraine with “the air defenses it needs, that has the artillery it needs, that has the armored vehicles it needs” to fight Russia.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 shortly after Biden lifted sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, which would have dramatically increased Russian natural gas exports to western Europe, particularly Germany. President-elect Donald Trump sanctioned the pipeline project during his first term as a means of depriving Russian strongman of the funds necessary to conduct more belligerent activity in eastern Europe; Putin initially invaded Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula and colonized it in 2014. Biden’s move to rescind the sanctions prompted shock and condemnation in Kyiv, where President Volodymyr Zelensky declared himself “very unpleasantly surprised” by the news.

Biden has supported the funding of the Ukrainian military since the full-scale invasion to the tune of tens of billions of dollars, but has done little to support negotiations with the aim of ending the conflict. Trump, in contrast, vowed to end the fighting as soon as possible to prevent the further destruction of the Ukrainian state. Zelensky enthusiastically welcomed the news last week that Trump would return to office and was among the first world leaders to congratulate him and speak to him directly following the election. (Read more from “Blinken Assures NATO Biden Will Funnel Billions to Ukraine Prior to Trump Return” HERE)

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‘Possible To Use Nuclear Weapons’: Putin Hardens Posture Against NATO Amid New Threats

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a warning to NATO members: if Ukraine gets permission to use long-range missiles, it will be an open declaration of war by NATO allies, and the Russian military is already prepared for it.

Polish news outlet Super Express reported Putin has stated Moscow military commanders are currently preparing troops for an eventual war against Western allies, because Russia’s reaction will be more than diplomatic.

“Our military command is thinking about it and will propose various options for response,” Putin said, adding Russia’s position on the matter should be taken seriously because “we will have to make some decisions on our side as well.”

During the BRICS Summit in Kazan last week, Putin accused NATO of hiding behind Ukraine to fight a war against Russia.

“NATO is at war with us, but with the hands of Ukrainian soldiers. Ukraine does not spare its soldiers in the interest of third countries,” Putin said.

(Read more from “‘Possible To Use Nuclear Weapons’: Putin Hardens Posture Against NATO Amid New Threats” HERE)

North Korea’s Troops in Ukraine Reveal Putin’s Weakness

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The war for Ukraine is widening. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed Wednesday that North Korea is dispatching thousands of troops to Russia, marking a significant escalation in its conflict with Kyiv.

Vladimir Putin is pulling Kim Jong Un deeper into the war — yet he is also revealing a weakness: The Kremlin is running low on recruitable troops at home.

North Korea’s infusion of fresh soldiers will remain practically risk-free for Pyongyang, unless the United States returns to its aggressive sanctions posture against the Kim regime.

The Kremlin is finding it difficult and expensive to entice more of Russia’s poor and desperate to sign up for the war — even with promises of bonuses and good pay.

In theory, Moscow could alternatively force millions of its fighting-age men into the Ukrainian meat grinder through conscription. (Read more from “North Korea’s Troops in Ukraine Reveal Putin’s Weakness” HERE)

Biden-Harris Pentagon Sends Another $400 Million to Ukraine for ‘Immediate Needs’

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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday during a surprise visit to Ukraine announced $400 million in U.S. military aid to Kiev — the second approximately $400 million aid package sent within one week.

Austin told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky he was “honored” to be back for his fourth visit to Ukraine.

“Under President Biden’s leadership, the United States remains committed to keeping up this support. And so, I’m pleased to announce today the commitment of a $400 million presidential drawdown package to provide your forces with additional munitions, armored vehicles, and anti-tank weapons,” he told the Ukrainian president.

Austin said while the “focus on Ukraine’s immediate needs goes on,” the U.S. was also committed to supporting Ukraine as outlined in a bilateral security agreement he and President Joe Biden signed in July.

Just six days ago, the White House announced a package of military support of $425 million, after Biden spoke to Zelensky via phone. (Read more from “Biden-Harris Pentagon Sends Another $400 Million to Ukraine for ‘Immediate Needs’” HERE)

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Book States Biden Blames Obama For Russia Invading Ukraine: He ‘F***ed Up’

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President Joe Biden blamed former President Barack Obama for Russia invading Ukraine in 2022, according to a new book from Bob Woodward, saying that the former president’s weakness in 2014 led to Russian President Vladimir Putin feeling emboldened to go further.

During a moment of political upheaval in February 2014, Russian soldiers, wearing uniforms with no insignias, seized government buildings throughout Crimea and later seized its airports. Russia illegally annexed Crimea the following month.

In his new book, “War,” journalist Bob Woodward says that Biden blamed Obama for Russia invading Ukraine.

“They f***ed up in 2014,” Biden said to a friend, according to Woodward. “That’s why we are here. We f***ed it up. Barack never took Putin seriously.”

“We did nothing. We gave Putin a license to continue!” Biden reportedly fumed. “Well, I’m revoking his f***ing license!” (Read more from “Book States Biden Blames Obama For Russia Invading Ukraine: He ‘F***ed Up’” HERE)

U.S. Intel Warns of ‘Lethal’ Response From Moscow if Ukraine Strikes Deeper Into Russia

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U.S. intelligence officials believe Russia could retaliate with lethal force if the Biden administration allows Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike deep within Russian territory, The New York Times reported Thursday, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter.

The warning comes as President Vladimir Putin this week announced plans to revise Russia’s nuclear weapons doctrine, with the Kremlin framing it as a clear message to the West. Under the proposed changes, Moscow would consider any attack by a non-nuclear country supported by a nuclear power as a joint attack by both.

According to the NYT report, Russia could escalate covert arson and sabotage operations in Europe and launch “potentially lethal attacks” on U.S. and European military bases if President Joe Biden allows Kyiv to fire long-range missiles further into Russia. According to recent media reports, Moscow is already in secret negotiations brokered by Iran to deliver anti-ship cruise missiles to Yemen’s Houthi militias.

Some of Biden’s senior advisers reportedly agree with intelligence warnings, citing heightened concerns following Putin’s “especially bellicose” recent statements. Earlier this month, the Kremlin leader said the West risks war with Russia if it allows Kyiv to use longer-range weapons to strike targets inside his country. (Read more from “U.S. Intel Warns of ‘Lethal’ Response From Moscow if Ukraine Strikes Deeper Into Russia” HERE)

World War 3 Fears Intensify Russian Drone Strike Threatens NATO Ally’s Airspace

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NATO dispatched four jets after a Russian drone was said to have ventured into Romanian airspace amid an assault on the nearby Ukraine.

The devastating attack on the Ukrainian town of Izmail resulted in three fatalities and 14 injuries, Odesa’s regional prosecutors claim. However, Ukraine’s air forces succeeded in taking down 24 out of 32 drones used in the strike.

Romania’s military responded by launching two of its F-16s and a pair of Spanish F-18s from their Borcea and Mihail Kogalniceanu bases between the early hours of 1.52 am and 3.22 am on Friday.

Following the incident, Romania’s Defense Ministry issued a strong rebuke of the attacks by the Russian Federation: “The Ministry of National Defense sends a firm message of condemnation of these attacks carried out by the Russian Federation against Ukrainian civilian objectives and infrastructure.”

It continued, “[They] are unjustified and in serious contradiction with the norms of international law. From the data available at this time, the existence of an impact area on the national territory has not been reported.”, reports the Express US. (Read more from “World War 3 Fears Intensify Russian Drone Strike Threatens NATO Ally’s Airspace” HERE)

Zelenskyy Flown Into Key Swing State at Taxpayer Expense After Attacking Trump, Vance

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy flew into a key U.S. swing state this week on a taxpayer-funded aircraft after publicly criticizing former President Donald Trump and Republican Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance.

Zelenskyy touched down in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on Sunday in a U.S. Air Force C-17A aircraft and toured a local munitions factory that has been producing armaments for Ukraine amid the country’s ongoing war against Russia. During his visit, Zelenskyy met with high-level Democratic Pennsylvania officials such as Gov. Josh Shapiro, Sen. Bob Casey and Rep. Matt Cartwright and expressed his gratitude “for their support.”

“Trump makes political statements in his election campaign. He says he wants the war to stop. Well, we do, too…. My feeling is that Trump doesn’t really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how,” Zelenskyy told The New Yorker in the interview published Sunday, noting that he was appreciative that Trump has expressed his support. “With this war, oftentimes, the deeper you look at it the less you understand. I’ve seen many leaders who were convinced they knew how to end it tomorrow, and as they waded deeper into it, they realized it’s not that simple.”

Zelenskyy was even more critical of Vance to The New Yorker, referring to him as “too radical.” In an interview with the Shawn Ryan show in mid-September, Vance recently proposed a peace deal where Russia retains the territory it has seized so that a demilitarized zone could be established along the current battle lines. . .

“This would be an awful idea, if a person were actually going to carry it out,” Zelenskyy told The New Yorker. “But there’s certainly no way this could ever happen… And it wouldn’t necessarily end the war, either. It’s just sloganeering.” (Read more from “Zelenskyy Flown Into Key Swing State at Taxpayer Expense After Attacking Trump, Vance” HERE)