U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink stated that the U.S. does not support or encourage Ukraine to use American-supplied weapons on targets within Russia. President Joe Biden’s requested $61 billion Ukraine aid package was recently passed by Congress and signed into law, allowing Kyiv to receive new shipments of weapons and military equipment. Earlier this year, the Biden administration secretly provided Ukraine with long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) capable of targeting areas within Russian territory. Brink praised this decision, highlighting the unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s defense.
While addressing Ukrainian media, Brink reiterated that all American-supplied weapons should not be used for strikes inside Russia, regardless of their capabilities. She emphasized that the priority was to support Ukraine’s efforts to defend itself and regain control of its territories. Some U.S. officials have raised concerns about Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries in Russia, fearing potential destabilization of the global oil market. Vice President Kamala Harris reportedly urged President Volodymyr Zelensky to cease these attacks during a private meeting, although Zelensky seemed dismissive of her concerns.
Zelensky has affirmed that U.S. weapons will not be utilized to target Russia, reiterating that only Ukrainian-made weapons would be employed for such actions. However, there are reports suggesting that the ATACMS provided by the U.S. have been utilized in regions of Ukraine that Russia claims to have annexed, such as Crimea in 2014 and other Ukrainian territories in 2022. Ukrainian officials are reportedly working to eliminate Russian military targets before Russian forces adapt to the capabilities of the long-range ATACMS.
While the U.S. has communicated its stance on the use of American-supplied weapons by Ukraine, other allies like the U.K. and Latvia have been providing Ukraine with weapons without any restrictions. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron stated that Ukraine has the right to use these weapons on targets within Russia, similar to Russia’s actions within Ukraine. As tensions continue to escalate and military operations unfold, the international community is closely monitoring the situation and the potential impacts of ongoing conflicts on global security and stability.
