U.S. Officials: Decision Targets Kharkiv Area, Allows Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Forces.
President Joe Biden authorized Ukraine to use U.S. weapons to strike inside Russia, according to two American officials, a significant reversal intended to bolster Kyiv’s defense efforts. The decision, confined to the Kharkiv area, allows Ukrainian forces to target Russian military units during attacks or preparations, but excludes long-range strikes into Russia. Secretary of State Antony Blinken hinted at the shift, emphasizing Ukraine’s autonomy in defense decisions. As Russia intensifies its offensive in the Kharkiv region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has raised concerns about the unequal playing field resulting from restrictions on Western-supplied weaponry.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron proposed this week that Ukraine be granted permission to target military sites inside Russia launching missiles towards Ukrainian territory.
Earlier, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg advocated for Ukraine to utilize Western-provided arms to strike Russian targets.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has frequently warned of retaliating to Western intervention in the conflict with nuclear capabilities. This has sparked concerns that authorizing Ukraine to employ Western weaponry against Russian targets may provoke a perilous escalation, potentially leading to global conflict.