The Biden administration’s decision to allow Ukraine to use U.S.-made weapons to attack Russian territory is aimed at blunting Russian attacks on the Kharkiv region, senior U.S. officials said Thursday.
The decision came after weeks of discussions with Ukrainians after Russia began a major offensive on Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv.
Since the city of Kharkiv is close to Russia and located in northeastern Ukraine, Russian forces have been attacking areas around the city with artillery and missiles fired or fired from Russian territory. Ukrainians are demanding that the United States give them greater aid in defending the city of Kharkiv. ‘s room for maneuver, a U.S. official said.
U.S. officials said President Biden’s permission was intended only to enable Ukraine to attack military bases in Russia used to attack the Kharkiv region.
A senior U.S. official in Washington said the administration’s policy prohibiting Ukraine from using U.S.-made weapons to carry out “long-range” attacks on Russian soil has not changed.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters traveling to Moldova on Wednesday that the United States would “adapt and adjust” to battlefield conditions. He was responding to a question about whether Biden would soon allow Ukraine to use U.S.-made weapons to attack Russia. This is a strong indication that the president is making the decision to give Ukraine clearance.
Leaders of NATO, France and Germany recently urged the United States to make the decision. In discussions within the administration, Blinken has advocated moving in this direction. He will attend a NATO meeting in Prague on Thursday and Friday and visited Ukraine two weeks ago.
Politico reported Biden’s decision earlier Thursday.
U.S. officials say the Pentagon is responsible for providing Ukraine with precise guidelines on what strikes it can carry out in Russia.
In addition to artillery and missile launchers, Ukrainians are also concerned about Russian aircraft dropping glide bombs from Russian airspace into Kharkiv. A glide bomb is a simple munition equipped with a tail fin. Ukrainian officials have said they want to use U.S.-made weapons to attack Russian aircraft in Russian airspace and at air bases within Russia.
