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Russia really does not want to be a target for Western long-range missiles. And, for now, the White House has "no intention of changing its policy" on this type of weapon.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's speech on Thursday had the desired effect.
If Atacms and Storm Shadow missiles are given to Ukraine, the czar (Putin) said, it will be as if "NATO itself was at war against us."
General Vincenzo Camporini, Italy's former chief of defense staff, for example, disagrees with Putin.
"You don't need a university course or to be a Westerner to set a missile flight plan. Ukrainians with two months of training are enough".
However, Putin was correct: the long-range missiles that Ukraine would like to hit Russia with need satellites to reach the target, and since Kiev does not have any, it must use NATO ones.
"There is at least one misunderstanding - says Camporini.
"The satellites are not of the Atlantic Alliance, but strictly national. Each belongs to its chain of command. NATO certainly discussed whether or not to allow the use of missiles on Russian territory, but decided not to give the green light to the Ukrainians. This does not mean that some member states can independently decide to do so. And this will not include the entire Atlantic Alliance".
NATO decides on the principle of consensus (which is almost equivalent to unanimity). With the exception of the case of aggression (Article 5).
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani actually immediately distanced himself from the missile hypothesis, before learning of Washington's decision.
"Italy has not authorized the use of military material outside the borders of Ukraine".
Also yesterday, the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg said that "We do not want to be part of the conflict".
President Zelensky's request was to shoot down Russian bombers flying over Ukraine with Alliance fighters.
The Russian president hinted that Western missiles, guided by Western satellites at targets in Russia, would constitute aggression.
The threat of "adequate countermeasures" brought World War III to mind.
"I don't discuss the political message - explains Camporini - that serves to divide Western public opinion as well as other measures of the information war that Russia pursues.
But technically the reasoning does not hold. Putin annexed the occupied regions of Ukraine by referendum. By their own law they are homeland territory for all intents and purposes and yet Atacms and Storm Shadows have regularly descended on those provinces for months. So what difference would it make?".
For the use of satellites, Camporini denies Putin in this case as well.
"Long-range missiles have different navigation systems, but the main one is the same GPS as the navigator in our car. Atacms, Storm Shadows, as well as Russian weapons use it. In terms of "intelligence" data, the Ukrainians have had information about the Russian rear since the beginning of the war. There would be nothing new."
Atacms, Storm Shadows and possibly Jassms that will be mounted under the wings of F16 jets that are devices that can reach 300 kilometers with an excellent degree of accuracy.
But would they be decisive in liberating Ukraine?
US Defense Secretary Austin had disputed the green light on Russian territory, saying Moscow had already moved the planes out of their range. According to some rumors, they would not be decisive (game changing) because the West does not have enough to seriously weaken the Russian logistics network.
The identified targets (250) will not defeat Putin's Army.
"Of course, however - claims Camporini - they would contribute to reducing the Russian ability to attack Ukrainian territory. Then, in the long run it would be something to see." At the moment, however, nothing is being done about it./ Adapted from Corriere della Sera
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