The U.S. has refused to budge in preventing Ukraine from using its long-range weaponry to strike targets deep within Russian territory, despite Kyiv’s insistence that this could turn the tide in the war.
Following Moscow’s Monday assault on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure, Kyiv has called for permission to strike targets within Russia.
During a news conference on Tuesday, Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Patrick Ryder was asked whether the U.S. would reconsider its restrictions on Ukraine’s use of American-supplied missiles.
“You’ve heard us say that the Ukrainians can use U.S. security assistance to defend themselves from cross-border attacks, in other words counterfire,” Ryder said. “But as it relates to long-range strike, deep strikes into Russia, our policy has not changed.”
The current restrictions primarily concern the MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System. The ATACMS, ground-launched ballistic missiles first supplied to Ukraine in March, possess a range of about 190 miles.
Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Patrick Ryder holding a news conference in Arlington, Virginia, on October 31, 2023. During a briefing on Tuesday, Ryder said the U.S. policy on restricting the use of American weapons to strike targets deep within Russia had not changed.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
While Kyiv has employed ATACMS to attack Moscow’s forces on its own territory, and use of the missiles has been green-lit for defensive strikes across the border, the U.S. has held fast in refusing to permit their use deep within Russia.
When pressed, Ryder said: “We’re not seeking conflict with Russia. We are simply supporting a democratic nation who was invaded two and a half years ago and enabling them to protect themselves.”
During a press gaggle on Monday, White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby was also asked whether Russia’s recent assault had motivated a reconsideration of the U.S. restrictions.
Kirby said there were no changes to the guidelines, but that private conversations would continue with Ukraine over how best to defend itself.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaking at the Ukraine 2024 Independence forum in Kyiv on August 27. Zelensky has repeatedly asked for permission to use American-supplied weaponry to strike targets deep within Russia, saying the inability to do so necessitated Ukraine’s ongoing incursion into Russian territory.
President of Ukraine Official Website
Following Russia’s attack on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky released a statement: “Each of these strikes repeatedly brings us back to the task of long-range capabilities—the need to provide our Defense Forces with enough long-range weapons that can destroy terrorists exactly in the areas of their strikes.”
Zelensky went on to say Ukraine’s ongoing incursion into Russia’s border regions was an effort “to compensate for the deficit of long-range capabilities.”
The Ukrainian leader previously called this the “one decision” that could prevent the Russian army from advancing further into Ukraine, adding, “If our partners lifted all restrictions on long-range capabilities, Ukraine would not need to physically enter the Kursk region to protect Ukrainian citizens in the border area and destroy Russia’s potential for aggression.”
Remains of the U.S.-made ATACMS long-range missile fired by Ukraine and shot down by the Russian air defense systems amid Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, near Lugansk People’s Republic, Russia. The U.S. has refused to allow Ukraine to employ ATACMS to strike targets deep within Russian territory, though Kyiv says this could turn the tide in the ongoing conflict.
Maxim Zakharov/Sputnik via AP
In an effort to convince Washington of the need for these capabilities, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Senior Presidential Adviser Andriy Yermak reportedly prepared a list of long-range targets within Russia that Kyiv could hit if given permission to use U.S. weaponry.
Politico, citing anonymous sources “familiar with Ukraine’s efforts,” reported that the pair planned to present the tailored list to U.S. national security officials during a visit to D.C. this week.
On Tuesday, the Institute for the Study of War created its own map of Russia’s potentially vulnerable targets, showing about 250 military and paramilitary facilities within range of Ukraine’s restricted arsenal.
However, the U.S. has also maintained that, even if it were to allow Ukraine to use its weaponry to strike Russia, moves by Moscow would limit the effect of these strikes.
According to an unnamed U.S. official quoted by the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, Russia has moved 90 percent of its military aircraft to bases beyond the reach of U.S.-supplied ATACMS.
Zelensky giving remarks at the 75th NATO Summit in Washington, D.C., on July 9. Ukraine has begun developing its own long-range capabilities, with Zelensky confirming the first combat use of the Ukraine-made Palianytsia drone missile on Sunday.
Bonnie Cash/Getty Images
As a result of the U.S.’s policy, Kyiv has developed its own long-range capabilities.
On Sunday, Zelensky confirmed the “first successful combat use” of its newest weapon, the Palianytsia drone missile, which he said was “designed domestically to destroy the enemy’s offensive potential.”
During the Ukraine 2024 Independence forum in Kyiv on Tuesday, Zelensky also announced that the country had carried out a successful test of its first domestic-made ballistic missile, but he did not provide further details about the weapon.
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