US President Joe Biden's administration is beginning to acknowledge that Ukraine may need force to strike Russian targets in Crimea, even if such a move would increase the risk of escalation. 

This is reported by The New York Times with reference to several anonymous officials from the USA.

"For years, the United States has insisted that Crimea is still part of Ukraine. However, the Biden administration has taken a hard line since Russia's invasion of Ukraine,

refusing to provide Kiev with the weapons it needs to target the Crimean peninsula

, which Russia uses as a base to launch devastating strikes . Now

that line is beginning to soften

," the article says.

U.S. officials said that after months of discussions with Ukrainian officials, the Biden administration is finally beginning to recognize that Kiev may need force to strike the "Russian sanctuary," even if such a move increases the risk of escalation. 

The administration of the US president has concluded that if the Ukrainian army can show Russia that control over Crimea may be under threat, this will strengthen Kyiv's position in any future negotiations.

In addition, 

fears that the Kremlin would respond with tactical nuclear weapons have faded.

The newspaper notes that

now the Biden administration is considering one of its boldest steps - helping Ukraine attack Crimea

, which Russian President Vladimir Putin "sees as an integral part of his desire to restore past Russian glory."

At the same time, the US president is not yet ready to provide Ukraine with the long-range missile systems it will need to attack Russian facilities on the peninsula.

Liberation of Crimea

It will be recalled that at the beginning of January, the representative office of the President of Ukraine reported that the offensive actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are approaching the so-called land corridor to Crimea, and it is already in the line of fire.

The head of Ukrainian intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, announced a serious spring counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine along the entire front - from Crimea to Donbas.

Budanov also stated that Crimea will be returned to the control of Ukraine by a combined means - military force and diplomacy.

It will be possible to liberate Crimea by the end of August 2023 - such a forecast was given by the former commander of the US forces in Europe, General Ben Godges.

Read also:

  • Duda predicts the decisive moment of the war: "Will answer the question: will Ukraine survive or not"

  • Stoltenberg announced a turning point in the war and called for more weapons to Ukraine

  • "Russia is preparing for revenge": Zelenskyi said at the forum in Davos who the Kremlin is fighting against

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