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Picture courtesy: (Getty Images) High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (Himars) are among the weapons Ukraine has been supplied by the US.
(The Post News)- The US administration announced on Friday, May 31, that US President Joe Biden has permitted Ukraine to use American weapons to attack Russia, but the weapons will be used only near the Kharkiv region.
The team had been directed to make sure Ukraine would use US weapons only for counter-fire purposes to hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them.
According to the US authorities, their policy concerning banning the use of the Army Tactical Missile System [ATACMS] or long-range strikes inside Russia has remained the same.
The decision comes after US President Joe Biden was under pressure from allies to permit Ukraine to attack Russia using Western weapons.
The European countries, France, Germany, and the UK, have signalled they are open to the removal of restrictions on how Ukraine will be able to use weapons given by the West.
They believe Ukraine should be allowed to launch attacks at Russian military targets across the border to better repel its advances.
Germany on Friday indicated that Ukraine can use weapons given by Western countries to defend itself against Russia.
According to a government spokesperson in a statement, Germany discussed with allies the fact that Russia has launched strikes on the Kharkiv region from positions in the immediately adjacent Russian border area. However, Washington, which has provided the bulk of Ukraine’s weaponry, has counter-removed the restrictions due to fears of escalation. It has not encouraged Ukrainian strikes on Russian soil.
Russian forces have secured the Kharkiv region after a surprise attack in the area, near the border with Russia, over the past few weeks.
Ukrainian authorities confirmed three people had lost their lives and 16 were injured in a Russian attack on a residential building in a suburb of Kharkiv city.
The policy shift comes after the Kremlin attacks the city of Kharkiv and a chorus of pressure from European allies.
The weaponry will be used only for limited military targets inside Russia.
Officials in Kyiv argued that President Volodymyr Zelensky and other top officials in his government have requested the shift with urgency as Russia has pressed its attack there with the Kremlin’s knowledge of Washington’s red lines.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Tuesday that there will be serious consequences for highlighting his country’s nuclear strength if Ukraine’s Western allies change their policy.
Russia’s RIA Novosti agency quoted Andrei Kartapolov, the head of the Russian lower house’s defence committee, on Friday, arguing that Moscow will fight back against Ukrainian attacks on its territory.
Senior Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev argued Russia was not pretending when it mentioned the possibility of using tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine and that its conflict with the West could escalate into an all-out war.
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