US policy on allowing Ukraine to strike deep into Russia: Washington avoids attacks that "do not play a key strategic role"

The State Department and the Pentagon indicate their readiness to constantly adapt their strategies to Ukraine's current needs for Western military equipment. There are reports from the White House of a changing U.S. position, although some officials believe it is impossible to change the policy of attacking Russian territory.

Writes UNN with a link to Voice of America.

There is no consensus in the U.S. Congress to authorize Ukraine to use U.S. weapons to strike deep into Russia, although representatives of both parties have expressed support for Ukraine. During his visit to Washington for the NATO summit, the Ukrainian president again called on American and European allies to lift restrictions on the use of long-range weapons.

President Biden, answering a question about Ukraine's ability to strike Russian territory during a press conference with President Zelenskyy at the NATO summit, said that the United States has already authorized Kyiv to fire within Russian borders. However, attacks on Moscow, according to Biden, would not be rational.

We have allowed Zelensky to use American weapons in the near border regions of Russia. Should we limit him? For example, if Zelenskyy had the ability to strike Moscow, the Kremlin, and he doesn't, would it make sense? No, it wouldn't. The question is how best to use the weapons he has, the weapons we provide him with

The US President noted that decisions on US policy are reviewed daily. Following the shelling of the Okhmatdyt hospital at the NATO summit, Voice of America journalists asked representatives of the National Security Council under the US Presidential Administration whether the incident could have influenced a change in the US position.

We have no changes in policy in terms of what we provide to Ukraine, so that we don't even try to get to mainland Russia

In a commentary for Voice of America, he said: "We review our policy on a daily basis. If there is a reason for minimal adjustments or special exceptions, we are ready to implement them.

On the other hand, Michael Carpenter, the National Security Council's senior director for European affairs, expressed doubt about the possibility of changing the policy that would allow Ukraine to use American weapons to attack airfields across Russia, calling it "unrealistic.

In an interview with Yulia Yarmolenko during the NATO summit, Carpenter explained: "russia is a big country, some of their bombers operate from places far away from Ukraine. We will never be able to deal with all the airfields in Russia without military coverage of the entire country.

Carpenter also noted that the best use of the long-range US missiles handed over to Kyiv is already being demonstrated in the relevant campaigns in Crimea and the occupied Donbas.

"And we saw that some of these strikes forced the Russian air force to get out of Crimea, and allowed Ukraine to get closer to those front lines and protect its troops," he added.

Ryder recalled that the day before, the United States had allowed Kyiv to use American ammunition to fire across the Ukrainian-Russian border, to fire back, and to launch defensive strikes.

If the Russians are forming troops or firing artillery or aircraft across the border, we have recognized this fact and given permission to the Ukrainians," the US Defense Department spokesman said. "But our policy on long-range strikes has not changed. I think it's important to understand that we don't want to see unintended consequences, an escalation that could turn this conflict into a broader one that goes beyond Ukraine. I think this is something that we all need to consider and take very seriously

He noted that the United States is trying to avoid shelling targets in Russia that "do not play a key strategic role," which could provoke an escalation of the conflict.16:20 "The United States is not at war with Russia.

We do not seek conflict with Russia, but we fully support Ukraine's right to defend itself, and we will continue to work with Ukraine to make sure it can do so

The Pentagon spokesman emphasized that the United States will continue to work with Ukraine to provide it with everything it needs to defend its territory and people. Commenting on the possibility of revising the U.S. policy on arms restrictions, Pat Ryder noted that decisions would be based on "common sense.

I think that in this case we are talking about common sense: if you are being shelled across the border, or if the Russians are forming troops to attack, say, Kharkiv. I think it makes sense to give Ukrainians the opportunity to shoot back

Recall

The US is talking to Ukraine about authorizing the use of US long-range weapons to strike territory deep inside Russia.