Biden's new rule on Ukraine's use of US weapons is far from enough to help him win

Months after most other countries lifted all restrictions on the use of weapons supplied to Ukraine, the Biden administration has finally adopted a new policy on the matter, according to media reports.

But the White House's decision – made after unbearable delay – falls far short of what needs to happen for Ukraine to turn the tide of this war.

This war has now lasted 10 years; this decision should have been made years ago.

We would never have asked a U.S. or NATO combat mission to fight a war so severely limited by U.S. and Western policy.

Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, is located less than 30 kilometers from the Russian border and has been facing a near-catastrophe for weeks.

The Russian military takes comfort in knowing it can continue the war in its sanctuary just across the border, without fear of reprisals.

Over the past six weeks, Russia has gradually conquered about 60 miles of territory in this northeastern corner of Ukraine.

As Russia continues to bomb the most obvious civilian targets, the call to allow Ukraine to use longer-range U.S.-supplied weapons to strike Russians in the sanctuary provided by U.S. policy has become crescendo.

Perhaps motivated to act now, lest this become a priority of the fast-approaching NATO summit in Washington, President Biden has chosen the most limited options available.

Without doubt this will potentially be the most dangerous for the Ukrainian forces.

The list of prohibitions that accompany this decision is long.

Seeking to “not provoke” Russia, the Biden administration has limited this new authority to our shortest range munitions, completely banning the use of longer range ATACMs, likely even to 150 range systems. km (90 miles).

In order to operate within these highly restrictive limitations, Ukraine will need to advance into the battle space, exposing its essential multiple rocket launch systems to Russian counter-battery fire.

The administration has also significantly limited the types of targets it will allow Ukraine to strike, including only Russian troops massed on the border and weapons systems that attack or prepare to attack Ukraine.

This latest set of restrictions is almost incomprehensible to understand as virtually every Russian military personnel present in this region of Russia, as well as every weapon, is there for this illegal, immoral and inhumane Russian campaign against the Ukrainian people. .

Likewise, the warning that U.S.-supplied weapons cannot be used to strike deep into Russia is superfluous, since the only weapons Ukraine will be allowed to use are very short-range weapons incapable of to strike deep.

Even if the White House were to change its mind, as it has so often in the past after months of delays, a 300 km (180 mile) ATACMS would still not constitute a very deep strike into Russia.

The most dangerous part: the combination of restrictions on general deployment location and limited range, which could result in a perfect target for Russia.

There can be no element of surprise when the Russians can determine the geographic location of Western weapons and target them accordingly.

Furthermore, by making it clear that no U.S.-supplied long-range weapons can be used, the Russian military must simply calculate the range of permitted weapons and move its assets just beyond that range.

The continued emphasis on banning “deep strikes” appears to be more of a message to Russia than to Ukraine.

The most effective weapon in Vladimir Putin's arsenal is his war of words and his dissuasive messages.

In the United States and the greater West, some are almost completely deterred by Putin's bluster, which has led to senseless restrictions.

Yes, these incremental changes in US policy are better than no change at all, but nonetheless remain a prescription for longer conflict.

In fact, the Biden administration is making it clear to Putin that he will continue to have the upper hand because Washington will not allow Ukraine to cause significant damage to the Russian war machine.

This is beyond tragic for Ukraine – as for the rest of the world.

General (Ret.) Philip Breedlove is the former Supreme Allied Commander Europe and Commander, United States European Command. Debra Cagan, senior advisor to the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, held senior positions in the Departments of State and Defense during the Reagan and Trump administrations.