House Speaker Mike Johnson has made a bold assertion regarding the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, advocating for a significant shift in U.S. policy. Johnson has expressed his support for allowing Ukraine to use American-supplied weapons to strike targets within Russian territory.
In recent weeks, Ukrainian officials have intensified their appeals to the Biden administration to lift the ban on using U.S.-provided weapons for strikes inside Russia. During a conversation with VOA on Wednesday, Johnson responded to this issue, stating, “They [Ukraine] need to be able to fight back. And I think us trying to micromanage the effort there is not a good policy for us.”
This stance is a reflection of growing frustration among Ukrainian leaders, who believe that the current restrictions are being exploited by Russia. Oleksandra Ustinova, a member of the Ukrainian parliament, articulated this sentiment during a recent visit to Washington. “Realizing that we do not have the right to use, for instance, HIMARS [rocket launchers] on the territory of Russia, the Russians display all their equipment along the border and use it to destroy the Kharkiv region,” Ustinova told VOA. “And we simply cannot get to them because there’s a ban on the usage of American weapons on the territory of Russia.”
This perspective has gained traction among some U.S. lawmakers as well. A bipartisan group of legislators recently sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, urging a policy change. “It is essential the Biden Administration allows Ukraine’s military leaders an ability to conduct a full spectrum of operations necessary to respond to Russia’s unprovoked attack on their sovereign land,” the letter stated.
Despite this pressure, the Department of Defense has maintained its position. Following the 22nd Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, Austin reiterated that U.S. weapons are to be used within Ukrainian territory. “In my view, their focus ought to be on the close fight and making sure that they’re servicing those targets that will enable success in the close fight,” Austin said. Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the strategic intent is to enable Ukraine to defend its sovereign territory.
However, there are voices within the strategic community advocating for a policy shift. John Herbst, former Ambassador to Ukraine and current senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, argued that the restrictions complicate Ukraine’s defense efforts. “If Ukraine could strike at the Russian troops just across the border in Russia that are about to move into Ukraine, Russia would have much greater logistical problems launching this current offensive,” Herbst told VOA. “And if we allow Ukraine to shoot at the Russian jets that are in Russian airspace and are launching the glide bombs, fewer people in Kharkiv would be dying.”
Steven Pifer, another former Ambassador to Ukraine, supports this view. “For 2+ years, Russia has struck military and civilian targets throughout Ukraine. Ukraine should be able to use US/Western weapons to hit Russian military forces inside Russia that support Russian forces operating in Ukraine,” Pifer wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Relevant articles:
– US House Speaker Mike Johnson supports allowing Ukraine to hit Russia with US-supplied weapons, pravda.com.ua, 05/23/2024
– US House speaker to VOA: Ukraine should be able to fight war as ‘they see fit’, Voice of America – VOA News, 05/22/2024
– Speaker Johnson says Ukrainians should be allowed to fight war as ‘they see fit’, Kyiv Independent, 05/22/2024
– Austin: Coalition supporting Ukraine won’t back down, Spectrum News NY1, 05/20/2024
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