Ukraine is working to lift the ban on the use of Western weapons on Russian territory – Kuleba

Ukraine will continue to work with its allies to expand the use of Western weapons to strike Russian territory, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said at a joint press conference with his Estonian counterpart on June 3.

Read also: “This could have fatal consequences” – Russian foreign minister authorizes kyiv to use Western weapons against Russia

“Our partners took an absolutely correct step by lifting restrictions on the use of weapons they supply to strike targets in Russia,” Kuleba said.

According to him, this does not mean that Ukraine has carte blanche, because there are rules to respect. However, the minister noted that the country would continue to work with its partners to expand the possibilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Use of Western weapons on Russian territory

The United States does not encourage Ukraine to use American weapons to strike Russian territory, White House spokesman John Kirby said on May 17.

Foreign weapons should be used “to reconquer Ukrainian sovereign territory,” and this should happen “specifically on Ukrainian territory,” the Pentagon stressed.

Ukraine has likely received approval from the United States to use American weapons for strikes on Russian territory, Le Monde reported, analyzing statements by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit to kyiv.

On May 3, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron pledged $3.74 billion in annual military aid to Ukraine. London is not opposed to using its weapons to strike Russia, he added.

Read also: Western strikes on Russia will impact frontline situation – Ukrainian military commander

Le Monde considers Cameron and Blinken's statements as “a sign of a deliberate change in the West's position” on this issue.

On May 20, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Brown provided evasive answers when asked whether Ukraine could use U.S. weapons to strike the aggressor country as part of the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv oblast.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the New York Times on May 21 that he had asked the United States to allow Ukraine to use American missiles and other weapons on military targets in Russia.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz declared his opposition on May 26 to Ukraine using Western weapons to strike Russian territory.

Swedish Defense Minister Paul Jonsson said Ukraine could use Swedish weapons to attack Russian territory.

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The AFP news agency, citing unnamed sources, reported that Ukraine has already used Western weapons to strike Russian territory several times, most recently in Krasnodar.

On May 31, the New York Times reported, citing unnamed White House officials, that U.S. President Joe Biden, under pressure from his advisers and top allies, had authorized Ukraine to carry out limited strikes on Russian territory with American-made weapons.

On the same day, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that the White House had authorized Ukraine to strike Russian territory with US weapons.

U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Michael Carpenter told Voice of America that the United States authorized Ukraine to strike Russian territory not only to protect Kharkiv from Russian attacks, but also to defend other Ukrainian regions.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Ukraine could strike Russian territory using HIMARS, GMLRS and US artillery shells. However, the US green light does not include the use of ATACMS. They also made it clear that the United States was still opposed to deep strikes in Russia.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine