U.S. lawmakers and former government officials are increasingly advocating for the Biden administration to authorize Ukraine to conduct military strikes on targets within Russia using U.S.-supplied weapons, despite concerns about the potential escalation of the conflict with Moscow.
Russia has been launching airstrikes and missiles from its mainland into Ukraine, causing significant damage to critical infrastructure and military installations. Concurrently, Russian forces have intensified their offensive along the eastern border, posing challenges for Ukraine’s already depleted military.
A recent missile strike by Russia on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city besieged in recent weeks, resulted in the death of at least seven people early Thursday.
The U.S. initiated the supply of long-range missile systems, known as ATACMS, earlier this year, before Congress authorized $60 billion in new military and financial assistance following months of delay. The legislation included a provision mandating the Biden administration to provide additional ATACMS to Ukraine, which Kyiv has long sought.
Gen. Charles Q. Brown, chair of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, acknowledged during a discussion hosted by the Atlantic Council that Ukraine currently possesses the capability to strike Russian targets, although not with U.S.-supplied weapons. He refrained from indicating whether this policy might change, stating that ongoing dialogue on the matter would continue.
Despite not having U.S.-supplied weapons, Ukraine has utilized drones and long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles provided by the United Kingdom to target some Russian military and energy facilities. U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron asserted Ukraine’s right to retaliate against Russia with London-supplied weapons, citing Russia’s attacks within Ukrainian territory using weapons from Iran and North Korea.
As Russia escalates its aerial assaults, particularly targeting cities like Kharkiv, calls for the Biden administration to permit Ukraine to retaliate with U.S. weapons are growing louder. Bill Taylor, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, criticized the current policy, stating that it provides Russians with a sanctuary and emphasizing Ukraine’s right to defend itself.
A bipartisan group of congressional lawmakers echoed these sentiments in a letter to U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, urging authorization for the use of U.S.-supplied weapons to target “strategic targets” within Russian territory under specific circumstances. Republican Rep. Mike Turner, leading the House Intelligence Committee, stressed the importance of allowing Ukraine’s military leaders to conduct necessary operations in response to Russia’s aggression.
Victoria Nuland, former top U.S. State Department official, advocated for permitting Ukraine to strike Russian bases involved in attacks, stating that if attacks originate from Russian territory, those bases should be considered legitimate targets. She emphasized the need for a decisive response to Russia’s actions.