Amid mounting pressure to permit Ukraine greater use of donated weapons, the US is seeking more clarity from Kyiv on how this move would impact the dynamics of the conflict. US officials are asking Ukraine to outline its combat objectives for requesting expanded use of US-supplied long-range missiles. Ukraine plans to use the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) to strike Russian airfields, command centers, and weapons depots deep in enemy territory. President Joe Biden’s administration currently allows Kyiv to use the weapon only for strikes within Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine. US officials remain skeptical that lifting the restrictions would have a significant impact on the war.
The US has been facing increasing pressure from NATO allies to allow Ukraine greater freedom to hit targets inside Russia to level the battlefield. Moscow’s forces have been using long-range aircraft, missiles, and drones to attack Ukraine, quickly gaining the upper hand in the ongoing war. Washington has expressed concerns that allowing Ukraine to strike inside Russia could further escalate the conflict and potentially allow Russia to reverse-engineer advanced American weapons. The White House also pointed out that Ukraine is already using long-range drones to strike into Russia, which is a more cost-effective and strategic approach compared to using expensive missiles.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that any strikes using Western weapons deep inside Russian territory will lead to a significant change in the nature of the conflict. Putin stated that such actions would be seen as an escalation of the war, making the US and its NATO allies directly involved. He emphasized that any such escalation would lead to Russia making appropriate decisions based on the threats created.
