Chris

More likely they’re talking about supplying Ukraine with longer-range weapons, like the US Army’s much-discussed ATACMS or our own equivalents.

Russia is going after Ukraine’s national infrastructure big time at the moment, and while it is running low on missile stocks they could do a lot of damage with what’s left. They won’t force Ukraine to capitulate but they could precipitate a major humanitarian crisis if the country goes through the winter with minimal ability to generate and transmit electricity. Russia needs fear no reprisals at present because Ukraine lacks the ability to conduct deep strikes of its own.

Nato has resisted calls to give Ukraine these weapons up to now because of the escalation risk. But it is becoming clear that Russia needs to be forced to think twice. Arming Ukraine with long range tactical missile systems is escalatory but the human cost of doing nothing is getting higher by the day.