Initially, Strikes Allowed Only Near Kharkiv Border
Long-Range Missile Attacks Using US-Made Weapons Are Prohibited
The United States has further eased the scope of the use of U.S.-made weapons by Ukraine. It has allowed counterattacks not only near Kharkiv but anywhere on Russian territory.
According to major foreign media including the U.S. political outlet Politico on the 20th (local time), Patrick Ryder, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense, stated that Ukraine's use of U.S.-made weapons against Russian forces is not limited to Russian territory near Kharkiv. He explained, "The policy focus is that when Russian forces fire across the border, Ukraine can use U.S. military supplies to counterattack Russia," adding, "This is self-defense, and it is right for Ukrainian forces to do so."
Earlier, Jake Sullivan, White House National Security Advisor, also said on the 18th on the U.S. public broadcaster PBS, "This is not a matter of geography but common sense," and added, "If Russia attacks Ukraine from its own territory, it is reasonable to allow Ukraine to counterattack."
The United States had previously restricted Ukraine from attacking Russian mainland with U.S.-supplied weapons to prevent escalation. However, last month, it partially permitted strikes on Russian territory for the purpose of defending Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. President Biden also explained in an interview with ABC News on the 6th of this month, "(The U.S.-made weapons supplied to Ukraine) were approved on the condition that they be used only near the border," and "Strikes on Moscow, the Kremlin, or within 200 miles (about 320 km) of Russian territory were not allowed."
Several U.S. government officials stated, "The recent expansion of the scope for striking Russian mainland does not actually represent a change in U.S. government policy," and added, "Even when the attack range was limited to near Kharkiv, the possibility of counterattacks on other parts of Russian mainland was not excluded." However, it is known that attacks on Russian mainland using U.S.-made long-range missiles remain prohibited.
This additional easing of U.S. weapon use restrictions is expected to provoke stronger backlash from Russia. Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned in response to Ukraine being allowed to attack Russian territory with Western weapons, saying, "We also have the right to act in the same way," signaling a countermeasure.
Meanwhile, on the 19th, President Putin held a summit in Pyongyang with North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un and signed a 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement.' The agreement includes a provision that if either North Korea or Russia suffers a military invasion, the other will promptly provide military assistance. The White House National Security Council (NSC) emphasized, "We have been warning for some time about the deepening cooperation between Russia and North Korea," and "We will continue to support Ukraine and our allies in the Indo-Pacific."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
