Joe Biden authorizes Ukraine to use US weapons to carry out limited strikes in Russia – The Irish Times

U.S. President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to carry out limited strikes in Russia with U.S.-made weapons, opening what could be a new chapter in Ukraine's war, U.S. officials said Thursday.

Mr Biden's decision appears to mark the first time a US president has authorized limited military attacks against artillery, missile bases and command centers within the borders of a weapon-wielding adversary nuclear. White House officials insisted, however, that the authorization extended only to what they described as acts of self-defense, so that Ukraine could protect Kharkiv, its second-largest city, and its surroundings to the northeast of incessant missile, glider and missile fire. bombs and artillery shells coming from across the border.

“The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S.-supplied weapons for counterfire purposes in the Kharkiv region, so that Ukraine can retaliate against Russian forces that are attacking or preparing to attack them,” a U.S. official said. said in a statement released by the administration. “Our policy regarding prohibiting the use of ATACMS or long-range strikes inside Russia has not changed,” the statement continued, referring to an artillery system supplied to the Ukraine, which has the ability to reach the depths of Russian territory.

At the White House, Mr. Biden's deliberations took place within a tight framework, known only to a very small group of aides. But the New York Times revealed last week that Secretary of State Antony Blinken returned from a sobering trip to Kiev and privately told the president that his 27-month ban on firing U.S. weapons on the Russian territory now put parts of Ukraine in danger. Danger. The Russians, he explained, were exploiting the president's ban and mounting constant attacks from a safe haven just inside the Russian border.

By that time, Jake Sullivan, the president's national security adviser, had also begun to change his mind, senior officials said. US allies too: Britain a few weeks ago authorized Ukraine to use its long-range Storm Shadow missile systems for attacks across Russia, and France and Germany recently adopted the same position. Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, also did the same.

The move follows weeks of talks with the Ukrainians after Russia launched a major assault on Kharkiv.

Because Kharkiv is so close to Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly pressed Mr. Biden and his aides for the right to retaliate inside Russia. Mr. Biden has rejected these demands for months, fearing that the use of American weapons could escalate the conflict – and put the United States in direct confrontation with Russia.

When he gave in, it was in the most strictly prescribed manner. Mr. Biden's authorization is intended only to allow Ukraine to strike military sites in Russia used to attack the Kharkiv region, U.S. officials said. Russian attacks in other regions – even near kyiv, the capital – cannot be responded to with the use of American weapons.

A senior U.S. official in Washington said the administration's policy barring Ukraine from using U.S.-made weapons for “long-range” attacks inside Russia had not changed.

Mr Biden's decision was reported earlier on Thursday by Politico.

The Pentagon is responsible for giving Ukraine exact guidelines on what it can strike in Russia, U.S. officials said. These have already been conveyed by Defense Secretary Lloyd J Austin III to General Christopher G Cavoli, four-star commander of the US European Command and Supreme Allied Commander, Europe. It was General Cavoli who conveyed the decision to Ukraine, officials said. – This article was originally published in the New York Times