The change in policy applies to a limited stretch of land near the Ukrainian border
US President Joe Biden has given Kiev permission to use American weapons to hit targets in the part of Russia bordering Ukraine’s Kharkov Region, a US official told Politico on Thursday. However, Biden has for now maintained the ban on strikes deeper into Russian territory.
“The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use US weapons for counter-fire purposes in Kharkov so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them,” the official said.
According to Politico, this decision was “secretly” communicated to Kiev some time before its official confirmation.
In practice, Biden’s direction will allow Ukrainian forces to use long-range American weapons – such as the ATACMS missiles quietly shipped to Kiev since early April – to attack a band of Russian territory bordering Kharkov Region, where Russia recently seized dozens of towns and villages.
Ukraine had previously used these towns and villages to launch artillery, drone, and missile strikes on the same Russian territory covered by Biden’s directive. However, Russia’s push into Kharkov Region forced the Ukrainian military to abandon these staging grounds, ensuring that it could no longer strike targets in Belgorod and other Russian settlements near the border.
The US official who spoke to Politico claimed that Biden’s decision “has not changed” the US’ prohibition on strikes deep inside Russian territory. Biden has come under pressure to allow Ukraine unrestricted use of American weaponry against Russia in recent weeks, but – publicly at least – still refuses to grant this permission.
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