The US to increase the area of use of US weapons for Ukraine if Russia expands the front line

3 July, 2024 M270 MLRS launches the ATACMS missile. USA. Photo credits: Lockheed Martin

Ukraine will be allowed to fire U.S. weapons at a greater distance into Russia if the invaders try to expand the front line. James O'Brien, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, stated this at a House Committee on Foreign Relations hearing. According to him, Russian troops are losing their ability to advance due to Ukraine's destruction of Russian facilities near the border.

"We are seeing a dramatic change in Russia's ability to sustain its campaign against Ukraine because of the loss of facilities in the area where it is allowed to fire," O'Brien said. He added that the U.S. priority was to provide weapons and concentrate them "in areas of greatest need."

James O'Brien. Photo credits: U.S.

Department of State

"At first, it was the area where Russia launched its offensive near Kharkiv. And now, as Jake Sullivan said last week, if Russia tries to expand this front, Ukraine will be allowed to reach targets at a greater distance," O'Brien emphasized.

Support of strikes

Before that, the US Congress once again called for lifting all restrictions on the Armed Forces of Ukraine and expanding the use of US ATACMS long-range missiles against Russian military facilities in Russia. "War criminal (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and his forces have calculated the exact distance to strike Ukraine from Russian territory so that Ukraine cannot retaliate.

While some restrictions on Ukrainian counterattacks have been lifted, it is clearly not enough," Republican Congressman Joe Wilson noted. He added: "Ukraine has to win this war, they are motivated by the struggle for existence, but victory is only possible if we let them."

Vitali Klytschko, Mayor of Kyiv, and Joe Wilson, U.S. House of Representatives, 2018.

Photo credits: 2nd Ukrainian Lunch in Munich

Lawmakers who support lifting all bans on the Armed Forces of Ukraine emphasize that this demand is bipartisan, supported by both Republicans and Democrats. "I appreciate that the co-chairman of the committee, Democrat Gregory Meeks, is in favor of retaliatory strikes," Republican Joe Wilson said during the hearing. In May, the United States changed its policy on Ukraine's strikes against Russia, but this does not apply to ATACMS missiles.

This decision is aimed at disrupting the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region.