OPINIONE: “La battaglia di Kharkiv ha rotto la linea rossa che europei e americani sembravano essersi prefissati all’inizio della guerra”

**Kyiv’s ban on the use of Western weapons against Russian territory was recently lifted by the Europeans and the Americans. This move was prompted by the new front opened up by Russia around the country’s second-largest city, explains columnist Alain Frachon.**

Yet another “red line” has been crossed in the Russian-Ukrainian war. Long had the West hesitated to deliver tanks to Kyiv, but no more. On the fence, they wondered if they should equip Ukraine with American F-16 fighters. They’re on their way. While they had previously supplied artillery and medium-range missiles to their Ukrainian ally, it could only use them against Russian forces deployed on its territory, not across the border. No longer.

The battle for Kharkiv has broken the last red line Europeans and Americans seemed to have set themselves at the very start of the war. Since May 10, the Russians have subjected Ukraine’s second-largest city, in the north of the country, to daily bombings. Their targets are residential buildings and civil and political infrastructures. The beautiful Kharkiv is located just a few dozen kilometers from Russia. People here used to have family and work on both sides of the border.

The West used to argue that no direct missile attack should target the territory of the world’s second-largest nuclear power. But Vladimir Putin is using and abusing the threat of nuclear weapons to wage a conventional war. Sheltered by its force of mass destruction, Russia is sanctuarizing its territory and, from there, “conventionally” bombing its Ukrainian neighbors.

They know where the missiles are coming from, they are aware of the Russian logistics chains deployed along the border and they can see their adversary preparing artillery batteries and missile launch pads.

**Read the full article here:** [https://www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2024/06/07/the-battle-of-kharkiv-has-broken-the-red-line-that-europeans-and-americans-seemed-to-have-set-for-themselves-at-the-start-of-the-war_6674070_23.html](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2024/06/07/the-battle-of-kharkiv-has-broken-the-red-line-that-europeans-and-americans-seemed-to-have-set-for-themselves-at-the-start-of-the-war_6674070_23.html)

What time is it? It’s Tomahawk Time!