The Biden administration is currently considering the adoption of a proposal supported by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) that would enable Ukraine to use weapons provided by the United States to target Russia. According to a recent report by The New York Times, the State Department, under the leadership of Secretary Antony Blinken, is urging the Biden administration to grant Ukraine the authority to strike missile and artillery installations located within Russia. These weapons were initially provided by the United States to aid Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said, “This is part of our defense. How can we protect ourselves from these attacks? This is the only way.”
The suggested significant increase comes in response to Johnson’s endorsement of the planned decision to launch an attack on Russia: “I think we need to allow Ukraine to prosecute the war the way they see fit. They need to be able to fight back. And I think us trying to micromanage the effort there – it’s not a good policy for us,” the congressman said.
The concept was initially proposed by House Intelligence Committee chairman Mike Turner (R-OH), Ranking Member Jim Himes (D-CT), and other committee members, urging the Biden administration to implement this increase in a letter addressed to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
They wrote:
“Our Ukrainian allies are requesting permission to use certain weapons provided by the United States to conduct operations on strategic targets inside Russian and Russian-controlled territory. According to a May 14th report by Politico, the Biden Administration’s current policy is handcuffing Ukraine’s ability to push back on Russian forces near Kharkiv with U.S.-origin weapons. Ukrainian officials have watched for weeks as Russian troops have attacked Ukrainian communities from Russian territory with impunity. Ukrainians have been unable to defend themselves due to the Administration’s current policy. It is essential the Biden Administration allows Ukraine’s military leaders an ability to conduct a full spectrum of operations necessary to respond to Russia’s unprovoked attack on their sovereign land.”