In a significant policy shift, President Biden has authorized Ukraine to conduct limited strikes inside Russia with American-made weapons, marking a new chapter in the conflict, U.S. officials revealed on Thursday. The decision allows Ukrainian forces to retaliate against Russian attacks near Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine, using U.S.-supplied weaponry. This move represents a major departure from Biden’s previous stance of prohibiting Ukraine from using American weapons outside their borders.
The authorization, described as acts of self-defense to protect Kharkiv from Russian assaults, follows intensifying pressure from European allies and the Kremlin’s recent escalation in the region. The decision allows Ukraine to utilize American-supplied artillery and rocket launchers to target Russian troops and equipment just across the border, in the Belgorod region, while maintaining the prohibition on longer-range strikes inside Russia.
The Biden administration’s decision is a response to Ukraine’s urgent appeal for support as they face renewed Russian aggression near Kharkiv, a strategic city just 19 miles from the Russian border. This development comes after Congress recently approved military aid for Ukraine, which had been dwindling, leaving Ukrainian forces vulnerable to Russian advances. The U.S. shift in policy also aligns with moves by European allies, including France and Germany, to allow Ukraine to use their weapons on military targets inside Russia.
Russia’s response to the authorization has been critical, with warnings of ‘serious consequences’ and hints at potential asymmetrical retaliation. Moscow has indicated its readiness to respond to Ukrainian attacks using U.S.-supplied weaponry asymmetrically, increasing concerns of further escalation in the conflict. The Kremlin has previously alluded to the possibility of using tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine in response to aggressive actions.
President Zelensky of Ukraine has been advocating for the use of longer-range weaponry to target Russian forces inside Russia as part of their defense strategy, particularly amid the recent spate of attacks on Kharkiv. The Biden administration’s decision marks a significant shift in approach, signaling a willingness to adapt to evolving dynamics in the conflict and provide Ukraine with enhanced capabilities to defend itself.
The move by the U.S. to allow limited strikes by Ukraine inside Russia reflects a changing landscape in the conflict, as geopolitical tensions continue to escalate. The decision underscores a shift in Biden’s risk appetite and signals a deeper involvement in the conflict, with potential implications for the broader regional security dynamics.
