Last week the Biden administration greenlighted Ukraine firing six American military ATACMS ballistic missiles toward Russian targets, then Russia responding in kind, firing what is believed to be its new hypersonic ORSHNIK missile, which are usually tipped with nuclear bombs, into Ukraine.
Russia’s capability on display
Pentagon analyst Bob Maginnis says Putin is sending a loud and clear message to the west. 
“It, basically, sends a message that they can reach out and touch western capitals as well as all of Ukraine, and it's a result, of course, of launching rockets into Russia.
He says Putin may be looking for an off ramp from this costly war.
“What they want is western capitals to deescalate and begin negotiations with Russia over ending the war,” Maginnis said.
Those negotiations will probably have Ukraine giving up some of its territory in its east and Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. Russia is also insisting that Ukraine not be let into NATO.
Maginnis is keeping his fingers crossed for a solid diplomatic showing from Biden that the U.S. is not used to seeing.
“Hopefully, behind the scenes he is beginning to make progress in finding a solution to force them to the peace table,” Maginnis said.
Strength is coming but not here yet
The escalation comes as the US transitions from a feckless Biden administration to a strong and experienced Trump administration. Maginnis says our adversaries could see the next two months as their last opportunity to make moves against the west.
“Clearly Mr. Biden doesn't have a solid control over much of anything, and that communicates weakness, both on our side, to our allies, as well as to our adversaries the Russians, Chinese, North Koreans, Iranians and others. And so, it is a time of vulnerability.”
