Biden Encouraged to Cross Putin's 'Red Line' by Ex-NATO Commander

U.S. President Joe Biden is being urged to cross one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's so-called "red lines" in the Russia-Ukraine war by the former supreme commander of NATO forces in Europe.

Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Putin has repeatedly warned U.S. and its allies that they risk expanding the war if they provide Kyiv with weapons capable of striking within Russia. Despite the threats, some weapons with long-range capabilities have since been given to Ukraine, without any sign of retaliation from Putin.

James L. Jones, retired four-star U.S. Marine Corps general and ex-adviser to former President Barack Obama, said during an interview published by RadioFreeEurope on Sunday that military aid from the Biden administration had been "too cautious" and had effectively forced Ukraine to fight with "one hand tied behind their backs."

"I think the United States was complicit in not providing the weapons rapidly enough— particularly the air side," Jones said. "We were too cautious about not giving the Ukrainians weapons that could strike into Russia. And so, you're really causing them to have to fight the war with one hand tied behind their backs.

"But I think people realize that now, and the supply chains are better, and the equipment is arriving at a faster rate," he continued. "So, we'll have to wait and see. But the big missing piece, I think, for me, is aviation ..."

Newsweek reached out for comment to the White House via email on Tuesday.

Long-range weapons that the U.S. has provided to Ukraine include Ground Launched Small Diameter Bombs (GLSDB) and Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), although the ATACMS sent to Kyiv offer a shorter range than others. The U.K. has also sent Ukraine long-range "Storm Shadow" missiles.

Last week, Ukrainian media outlet Militarnyi speculated that a new High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) included in a fresh U.S. aid package to Ukraine may be equipped with a "unique modification" that allows it to launch weapons that could strike targets in Russia, possibly including GLSDB or long-range missiles intended for ATACMS.

Jones argued that fears of Russia expanding the war over military aid alone were unfounded. He said that Ukraine needed additional weapons, including longer-range ATACMS, to defeat Russia instead of maintaining the course of "working towards a stalemate."

"It goes back to a fear in [NATO] capitals that if you give the Ukrainians the weapons that can strike into Russia, they will do that and it might cause a wider war," Jones said. "I don't think that's correct, to be honest with you ... The fear, obviously, is that Vladimir Putin would escalate to a nuclear conflict, and everybody's concerned about that."

Jones also called Putin's decision to invade Ukraine "probably one of the biggest historical blunders that any leader has made," saying that he did not at the moment "see a definitive advantage on either side" of the war but had "pretty much no doubt that Russia will not be successful in taking over Ukraine as a country."

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