Biden OKs Ukraine’s use of US weapons inside Russia in major shift

President Joe Biden has made a significant departure from previous American policy by granting Ukraine authorization to utilize U.S. weapons in targeting locations within Russia. This shift, while potentially escalating the ongoing conflict that has persisted for over two years, marks a significant change in approach.

Previously, the Biden administration had refrained from permitting the use of U.S.-supplied weapons to strike within Russian territory, citing concerns over potential ramifications such as wider regional conflict or the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons by Russia.

However, recent battlefield advancements by Russian forces near Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, appear to have prompted a reassessment of this stance.

Under the new policy, Ukraine is now permitted to employ U.S.-supplied weaponry to retaliate against Russian forces engaging them in the vicinity of the Kharkiv region. Notably, restrictions on the use of long-range ATACMS missiles within Russia remain in place, according to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity.