With limited capacity, President Joe Biden has reportedly allowed Ukraine to use weapons secretly provided by the U.S. to attack Russia. This move allows Ukraine to prepare a sufficient counterattack against the Russian military.
On May 30, political media outlets reported that President Biden had allowed Ukraine to retaliate against Russia using U.S. weapons. This was granted only on the condition of defending Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, which is currently under heavy attack from Russia.
The media outlets quoted several officials saying, “President Biden recently instructed his team to allow Ukraine to use American weapons for retaliation in Kharkiv.”
This marks a change in the Biden administration’s principle of prohibiting the use of U.S. weapons to attack Russia following the Ukrainian war.
Biden promised definitive military support to Ukraine but opposed the use of American weapons to attack Russia to prevent escalation.
Biden’s policy change came as Russia recently launched a major offensive against Ukraine, putting the border city of Kharkiv at risk.
The Ukrainian government has continuously requested the U.S. to amend this principle, emphasizing the precariousness of the war situation.
The U.S.’s major allies, including the U.K. and France, also pressured the U.S., arguing that they should be able to retaliate against Russia using the weapons provided by the West.
Additionally, 60 former U.S. bureaucrats and scholars sent a letter to Biden requesting permission to use weapons to strike Russia.
With Biden’s decision, the Ukrainian military can now intercept Russian missiles heading toward Kharkiv by launching rockets. They can also attack Russian bombers launching bombs at Ukrainian territory from near the border.
However, Ukraine is still prohibited from attacking Russia’s civilian infrastructure or military targets in Russian territory using long-range missiles provided by the U.S.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested the possibility of acceptance at a press conference in Moldova on May 29, saying, “As the conditions, battlefield situation, and Russia’s manner of aggression have changed, we have adapted and adjusted.”
The White House National Security Communications Assistant John Kirby also hinted at allowing attacks on Russian territory with weapons provided by the U.S., saying, “Our support for Ukraine has also evolved appropriately.”
