The United States is at risk of war with Russia over its supply of weapons to Ukraine

US President Joe Biden has changed his mind about providing state-of-the-art rocket-propelled grenades to Ukraine. In the face of intensifying Russian attacks in eastern Ukraine, he announced on Tuesday that he would provide Kiev with a state-of-the-art rocket system. But Biden’s move could complicate bilateral relations between the United States and Russia. Russia also warned on Wednesday that this could increase the risk of a direct confrontation between Moscow and Washington.

The United States and its Western allies have been providing financial and military assistance to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24. Earlier, Biden said the country would not be provided with state-of-the-art rocket systems. But in an article published in the New York Times on Tuesday, he wrote, “We will send more advanced rocket-propelled grenades and weapons to Ukraine. It will help them (Ukrainian forces) to carry out more sophisticated attacks on targets on the battlefield in Ukraine.

The United States will supply Ukraine with Himmers or Hemobility artillery rocket systems (capable of launching long-range rockets) that can hit targets up to 60 kilometers (50 miles) away. Washington will supply the rocket-propelled grenade to Ukraine as part of a new 600 million weapons aid package. Russia and Ukraine are both using the mobility artillery rocket system. However, Himaras is unique.

A U.S. official told reporters that Himers was being sent to Ukraine. It can attack a specific target accurately. And it is far beyond the existing rocket system in Ukraine’s hands.

According to Biden, the Russian campaign in Ukraine will end through diplomacy. However, the United States must provide a significant number of weapons and ammunition to give Ukraine the highest morale at the negotiating table. “We will not give Ukraine any rocket-propelled grenade that could be used to launch an attack on Russia,” Biden said.