For “quiet” US approval in Ukraine to strike Russian territory very close to Kharkiv, with American weapons Politico talks
The Biden administration has “quietly” given Ukraine permission to strike inside Russia — exclusively in an area near Kharkiv — using U.S.-supplied weapons, two U.S. officials and two others familiar with the matter said Thursday. Politico.
As the report points out, this is an important development that will help Ukraine better defend itself, thus protecting its second largest city.
The US president recently asked officials in his administration to ensure that Ukraine is able to use US weapons for firefighting purposes in Kharkivso that Ukraine can strike back at Russian forces that are striking them or preparing to strike them,” a US official said, adding that its policy of allowing long-term strikes inside Russia “has not changed”.
Ukraine asked the USA to make that policy change only after Russia’s offensive on Kharkiv began this month, the official added. All people were granted anonymity to discuss internal decisions that have not been announced.
In recent days, the US made the decision to allow Ukraine “flexibility” to defend itself against attacks on the border near Kharkiv, the second US official said.
In fact, Ukraine can now use American-supplied weapons, such as rockets and rocket launchers, to shoot down Russian-launched missiles headed for Kharkiv, at troops massing just over the Russian border near the city, or Russian bombers dropping bombs on Ukrainian territory.
But the official said Ukraine cannot use those weapons to hit civilian infrastructure or launch long-range missiles, such as the Army Tactical Missile System, to hit military targets deep inside Russia.
It’s a radical change that the administration initially said would escalate the war by more directly involving the US in the battle.
However, worsening conditions for Ukraine on the battlefield – specifically Russia’s advance and improving its position in Kharkiv – led the president to change his mind.
The National Security Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Source :Skai
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