Ukraine's 1,000th Day

November 18, 2024

November 19 marks the 1,000th day in Ukraine’s struggle against Moscow’s full-scale invasion. Fittingly, President Joe Biden yesterday shifted policy by permitting Kyiv to fire long-range American missiles into the Kursk Region, which Ukraine seized in August. This won’t turn the tide of the war but will improve Ukraine’s bargaining position in upcoming peace negotiations. The weapons will also help Kyiv repel the 50,000 North Korean and Russian troops who have been amassed to recapture Kursk. And, likely, Britain, France, and Germany will also grant permission for their long-range weapons to be used, particularly following Russia’s November 16 and 17 bombing attacks against civilians across Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky has pleaded for months for such help as his country is slowly turning into rubble. He responded immediately to Biden’s decision: “Strikes are not carried out with words. Such things are not announced. Missiles will speak for themselves.”