Katerina Schwartz08:10, 05/29/24

It is noted that these steps will represent a significant “escalation” of Biden’s policy to support Ukraine.

Russia’s achievements on the Ukraine front are forcing the White House to reconsider some of its so-called “red lines.” To counter Russia’s offensive in Ukraine, US President Joe Biden is considering two new tough countermeasures, columnist David Ignates writes in his column for The Washington Post .

The point is to punish China for supplying key technologies to Moscow and to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of American short-range weapons to attack Russian territory.

“These steps would represent a significant escalation of Biden’s carefully calibrated policy of supporting Ukraine to avoid direct confrontation with Putin or his key ally Xi Jinping. The fact that such steps are now being considered shows the administration’s growing concern about Ukraine’s vulnerability on the battlefield.” – noted the author.VIDEO OF THE DAY

It is pointed out that the threat of new sanctions against China is especially sensitive, since it arises at a time when both countries are trying to stabilize their relations.

But U.S. officials are concerned that Beijing, while formally honoring its promise not to supply weapons to Moscow, has become a major enabler of the Russian defense sector and its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

It is noted that China is the largest supplier to Russia of 50 “high-priority” dual-use goods, and also supplies about 70% of Russian imports of machine tools and 90% of imported microelectronics. In addition, China is providing Russia with satellite technology that could be critical for communications and targeting in strikes against Ukraine.

The columnist adds that US officials are equally concerned that Russia is massing troops and equipment on the border to attack Kharkov and other cities in eastern Ukraine:

“American artillery and short-range missiles could hit these targets without threatening deep strikes on Russia. But for now, the United States is limiting their use inside Ukraine, so it cannot strike large Russian logistics and troop assembly centers directly abroad. But that could change as other NATO countries put pressure on Biden to loosen controls.

The author suggests that we may be approaching another turning point in Ukraine:

As China increasingly leans toward a partnership with a newly dominant Russia, Biden is weighing whether to deepen his alliance with Kiev. That would bring new risks, but it would make sense if it could bolster a shaky Ukraine and restore balance. at the negotiating table at which this war must ultimately be settled.”

(C)UNIAN 2024