President Joe Biden has affirmed that U.S.-supplied weapons to Ukraine will not be used for strikes deep within Russia, including Moscow.
Biden’s statement came amidst ongoing Russian military actions in northeastern Ukraine, prompting the U.S. and other nations to permit Ukraine to use Western-donated arms for operations within Russian borders adjacent to conflict zones.
In an interview with ABC News, Biden clarified, “They’re authorized for use near the border to counteract direct attacks from Russian territory on Ukraine. We’re not authorizing strikes 200 miles into Russia or targeting the Kremlin.” This directive aligns with the U.S.’s strategy to allow defensive operations in Ukraine’s eastern Kharkiv region, which has faced intense bombardment.
Additionally, Germany has also permitted Ukraine to target Russian military threats using German-provided weapons. Biden emphasized that these arms are intended to repel attacks originating from just across the Ukrainian border, where Russia has been actively deploying conventional weaponry.
The president discussed these matters while in France, attending the 80th-anniversary commemorations of D-Day.