BIDEN EASES RESTRICTIONS ON UKRAINE USING US WEAPONS INSIDE RUSSIA

Fri 31 May 2024:

President Joe Biden has eased a restriction on Ukraine using US weapons within Russian territory to aid in defending the northeastern Kharkiv region from renewed Russian attacks. Multiple US officials, speaking anonymously, reported that Kyiv is now permitted to use these weapons on the border of Kharkiv, which has faced increased aggression from Russia this month.

This policy shift by Biden, who had previously barred Kyiv from using US arms beyond Ukraine’s borders, aligns with recent indications from France and other European countries that they would also allow Ukraine to target military sites inside Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of “serious consequences” and highlighted Russia’s nuclear capabilities if Western allies relaxed their restrictions. However, there has been no immediate response from Moscow regarding Biden’s decision.

A US official confirmed to Reuters, AFP, and The Associated Press that Biden directed his team to enable Ukraine to use US-supplied weapons for counter-attacks in the Kharkiv region to combat Russian forces. This change was first reported by Politico.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been pushing for permission to use longer-range weapons to strike Russian targets amid increased attacks on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, located about 30 kilometers from the Russian border.

The US remains the largest supplier of weapons to Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion began in February 2022. However, Washington continues to restrict Ukraine from using long-range weapons like ATACMS, which can reach up to 300km, for deep attacks inside Russia.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg recently advocated for easing the restrictions to allow Ukraine to defend itself more effectively. Meanwhile, Russian military activity near the Kharkiv border has intensified, with additional troops being moved to the area, according to Ukraine’s top military commander Oleksandr Syrskii.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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