President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use American weaponry to strike inside Russia for the limited purpose of defending Kharkiv, according to three U.S. officials. The U.S. policy still restricts Ukraine from using ATACMS or long-range missiles to strike offensively inside Russia. However, Biden’s directive allows for U.S.-supplied weapons to be used for counterfire purposes in the Kharkiv region. This decision comes as Ukrainian officials have requested the use of American weapons to defend against attacks from Russian territory.
The delay in military aid replenishment and inadequate military production in Western Europe have led to Ukraine’s heightened calls for assistance. During Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent visit to Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pleaded for the U.S. to allow its forces to strike back at positions in Russia launching attacks into Ukraine. Blinken brought this message back to Washington, where Biden ultimately made the decision to allow limited use of American weapons for defensive purposes.
The Biden administration has been careful not to provoke further escalation in the conflict with Russia. However, recent calls from European leaders and NATO officials suggest a shift in policy may be necessary to allow Ukraine to effectively defend itself. Biden’s decision to allow limited strikes inside Russia coincides with his upcoming trip to France for D-Day 80th-anniversary commemorations, where he will join other world leaders, including Zelenskyy.
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