<p>The international arena is experiencing a profoundly difficult and complex transition from a unipolar order toward multilateralism, characterized by the intensification and proliferation of various crises from Latin America to the ancient continent of Asia. The world, despite massive and rapid scientific and technological advancements, faces diverse contradictions.</p> <p>Furthermore, on one hand, the Pentagon's decision to hold a meeting of its highest-ranking military commanders and to meet with Trump signals potentially dangerous events in global geopolitics. On the other hand, the continuation of the horrific massacre in the Middle East and the ongoing crimes of the Zionist regime make conditions for regional and international peace and stability extremely difficult and dire.</p> <p><br />The war in the geography of Ukraine has entered a new phase. Despite heavy ground battles accompanied by extensive casualties on both sides, and Russia capturing several villages, Trump's decision to permit the use of long-range missiles by Ukraine is considered a significant development. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his speech earlier this week, spoke about information published in American media regarding the White House's decision to allow Kyiv to use ATACMS missiles to strike military targets. He described it as part of a plan presented to its Euro-Atlantic partners to strengthen Ukraine for victory. This authorization will undoubtedly play a key role regarding the Ukrainian army's long-range capabilities. He also announced redoubled efforts to conclude the purchase of $90 billion worth of advanced weaponry from the US.</p> <p><br />There is no doubt that Trump's authorization for the Ukrainian army to use the longest-range ATACMS missiles supplied by Washington to Kyiv, which will be used to target specific objectives in Russia, will cause a significant change in this complex conflict.</p> <p>It is predicted that the first strikes could be directed at critical infrastructure facilities, especially in the energy and logistics sectors. Ukraine has also published a map of dozens of Russian military facilities within the range of ATACMS missiles, including airfields, energy, and weapons installations. More importantly, Europe will also likely allow Ukraine to target military objectives inside Russia with Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles—a matter that will further complicate the situation. This constitutes a major strategic shift, coming just weeks after Donald Trump's change in approach regarding Russia and the Ukraine war by supporting the country in retaking its occupied territories in the east. Furthermore, the uproar surrounding the entry of unidentified drones into the airspace of various countries on the continent has been met with harsh stances from European leaders, the necessity of achieving maximum readiness to confront the Russian army, and a redoubled emphasis on continued support for the Ukrainian army.</p> <p><br />The waves of Russo-European disputes have seen a sharp upward trend, and in Moscow, reactions to this development have been swift and harsh. Russian officials state that the authorization Washington granted to Kyiv for Ukraine to use long-range American missiles to strike Russia is a very significant step toward escalating tensions and expanding the geography of the war. Continuing Russia's reactions, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement declared that such an attack on Russian soil signifies the direct involvement of the United States and its satellites in hostilities against Russia. Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian leaders have repeatedly warned the statesmen of the US-led NATO coalition, describing any military support commitment from Western allies to Ukraine as direct involvement in the war and emphasizing accountability and retaliation. In this context, Medvedev has elevated the threat level to the possibility of using unconventional weapons to target the geography of hostile states, especially Ukraine.</p> <p><br />In Europe, reactions have also varied. Some governments welcomed it, while others, such as Hungary, Slovakia, and Serbia, assessed it as dangerous. French President Emmanuel Macron praised the US decision to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles in Russia as "very good," stating, "This is a decision that is perfectly fine, I know that this decision also stems from a profound change in this conflict, which should not be underestimated." Furthermore, the German Chancellor and the British Prime Minister have also supported the White House's change in approach. This comes as Trump still keeps an eye on success in the peace and ceasefire process; thus, in his important meeting with the President of Turkey, he asked him to continue his initiatives for a peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv, while simultaneously, and with utmost seriousness, demanding a halt to Turkey's oil and gas imports from Russia.</p> <p><br />In sum, it must be acknowledged that, on one hand, this dangerous decision has tarnished a certain optimism about the possibility of ending the conflict, despite Trump's all-out efforts for peace, and may complicate the situation. On the other hand, the Trump team's objective, with European encouragement, could be to make conditions on the battlefield more difficult for Russia, compelling it to welcome Trump's proposals for ending the war with greater eagerness and fewer conditions. Of course, a serious threat also exists that if the war is dragged into NATO's geography, and considering the bloody developments in the Middle East with Netanyahu crossing red lines, the hypothesis of a new world war is not entirely out of reach. This would be a war that, with fundamental changes in the nature of warfare in the third millennium, could lead to the complete annihilation of human society and the arrival of an era ending prosperity and security, accompanied by tens of millions of innocent casualties. In such circumstances, the role and mission of peace advocates and rational, forward-thinking political leaders in encouraging hostile states toward peace and stability and ending the diverse global crises are crucial.</p> <p><br /><b>Ali Beman Eghbali Zarch, Senior Expert in Eurasian Studies</b><br /><b>(Responsibility for the content of this article rests with the author and does not reflect the views of the Center for Political and International Studies.)</b></p> <p></p>