The administration of US President Joe Biden has tacitly granted Ukraine permission to launch strikes on Russian territory, but only in the Kharkov region.
We are talking about the use of weapons provided by the United States, Politico writes, citing two American officials and two other people familiar with Biden’s decision. Voice of America reports similar information, citing a White House official.
US weapon attacks on Russia
— The President recently directed his team to ensure that American weapons could be used for a counterstrike in Kharkov so that Ukraine could retaliate against Russian forces that are launching or preparing to launch strikes — the US official told Politico, adding that the policy prohibiting long-range strikes inside Russia “has not changed”.
It is noted that Ukraine turned to the United States with a request to change this policy only after Russia’s offensive began in the north of the Kharkov region on May 10, the official added.
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In the last few days, the United States has decided to provide Ukraine with “flexibility” to protect against attacks on the border near Kharkov, another US official told the publication.
What does the US permission to attack the Russian Federation mean?
As Politico notes, in fact, Ukraine can now use US-provided weapons such as missiles and launchers to shoot down launched Russian missiles heading towards Kharkov at troops amassing just over the Russian border near the city, or on Russian bombers launching bombs into Ukrainian territory.
However, as a US official said, Ukraine cannot use these weapons to destroy civilian infrastructure or launch long-range missiles such as ATACMS to hit military targets deep inside Russia.
— It's a stunning change that the administration initially said would escalate the war by drawing the U.S. more directly into the fighting. But worsening conditions for Ukraine on the battlefield — namely the promotion of Russia and the improvement of its position in Kharkov — forced the President to change his mind, — writes the publication.
As Politico notes, the Biden administration has hinted that the decision was either made in secret or is expected to be announced in the final days.
On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who supports lifting restrictions, became the first US official to publicly hint that Biden might change course and allow such strikes, telling reporters that US policy towards Ukraine would change under necessity. Later, White House National Security Council Speaker John Kirby did not rule out potential changes.
Ukrainian strikes with Western weapons on the Russian Federation
The statements from official Washington came after leading US allies such as Great Britain and France said that Ukraine should have the right to attack inside Russia using Western weapons.
Lawmakers from both parties also supported the move publicly and privately, while top U.S. military officials briefed Congress behind closed doors that easing restrictions had “military value” ;.
Ukrainian officials, starting with President Volodymyr Zelensky, have pressed the Biden administration to change its policies since Russia launched a major offensive in the northern Kharkiv region.
