//The Wire//2200Z September 13, 2024//

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//BLUF: TEPID ATMOSPHERICS REMAIN THROUGHOUT EUROPE AS U.S. EYES NEXT ESCALATION OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE. //

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-International Events-

Poland: This afternoon a diplomatic incident has mounted following remarks by Polish politicians following the conclusion of a brief state visit by US SECSTATE Blinken. Poland has hosted varying talks related to the Ukrainian War, with Polish leadership expressing support for allowing Ukraine to use increasingly more long-range munitions in attacks on Russia.

Russia: President Putin has weighed in on the possibility of the United States allowing the use of long-range precision munitions by Ukraine to strike Russia. Specifically, Putin has directly stated that allowing Ukraine to use munitions that could only function by using NATO support systems (such as being guided by NATO military satellites that Ukraine does not have access to) would be considered to be an attack by NATO itself.

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Analyst Comments: Comments made by one or two Polish Members of the European Parliament hardly constitute the voice of an entire nation. However, this does indicate the level of dissension that is being expressed within some of the Western powers that are more heavily involved in the war. Some nations such as Germany, Poland, and the United Kingdom are approaching a crossroads regarding the next phase of the war. So far, the leadership of all western powers has indicated a preference for dragging out the war for as long as possible, and actively seeking to prevent peace talks (as has been a constant trend over the past year). This has been obvious to most for some time, however if elected officials are beginning to oppose the war more strongly (perhaps spurred on by the war in the Middle East), this could cause more serious internal tensions throughout many European nations.

Analyst: S2A1

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