Media: Ukraine asks for U.S. help in striking targets inside Russia

19 May, 2024 ATACMS. Photo credits: Strategic Communications Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Ukraine has asked the United States to help identify targets in Russia for Kyiv to strike using its own weapons.

It has also asked the U.S. to lift restrictions on the use of American-provided weapons against military objectives inside Russia. The Wall Street Journal reported on this with reference to U.S. and defense officials. The request from Ukraine was received last week and is currently being considered by the Biden administration.

At a briefing on May 17, John Kirby, Coordinator of the National Security Council at the White House, said that Washington does not currently support helping Kyiv select targets or using US weapons to strike Russian territory.

John Kirby. Photo credits: US media

"We do not encourage or support attacks on Russian soil, which has been our longstanding policy," Kirby said. According to the media, the United States provided Ukraine with ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles and other weapons systems on the condition that Ukraine would not use them to strike targets in Russia.

It is noted that this caveat, which Kyiv agreed to as a condition for receiving weapons, was intended to reduce the risk of the conflict escalating into a direct confrontation between the United States and Russia.

Sabrina Singh. Photo credits: Pentagon

The Pentagon previously also stated that it believes that the weapons provided by the United States to Ukraine as part of military assistance should be used within Ukrainian territory. Sabrina Singh, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary in the Department of Defense, stated that during a briefing.

Volodymyr Zelensky.

Photo credits: Office of the President

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi reacted to restrictions on the use of Western weapons by the Ukrainian Defense Forces to strike Russian soil.

According to Zelenskyi, there should be no restrictions on the use of Western weapons, as this is not a matter of Ukraine's offensive, but a matter of defense against Russian attacks.