The Biden administration suggested that it may allow Ukraine to use U.S. weapons to strike inside Russia.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters, “We haven’t encouraged or enabled strikes outside of Ukraine, but Ukraine, as I’ve said before, has to make its own decisions about the best way to effectively defend itself.”
He explained that a “hallmark of our support for Ukraine over these now more than two years has been to adapt.”
“As the conditions have changed, as the battlefield has changed, as what Russia does has changed in terms of how it’s pursuing its aggression, escalation, we’ve adapted and adjusted too, and I’m confident we’ll continue to do that,” he said.
A source familiar with the matter told Politico that President Joe Biden “recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S. weapons for counter-fire purposes in Kharkiv so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them.”
The policy against long-range strikes inside Russia “has not changed,” the source added.
American Faith reported that the U.S. sent long-range ballistic missiles to Ukraine in March.
According to Politico, the Biden administration “quietly approved the transfer of a number of Army Tactical Missile Systems with a range of nearly 200 miles.”
Last month, the U.S. Senate passed a foreign aid package in a 79-18 vote. The bill includes $95 billion for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific.
Biden said at the time, “I will sign this bill into law and address the American people as soon as it reaches my desk tomorrow so we can begin sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week.”
