Permission for Ukrainian Armed Forces to strike deep into Russian territory: the White House named targets, Patriot attacks were allowed in Germany

White House Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby named the targets of attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) deep into Russia with American weapons.

Kirby said earlier in May that the United States does not encourage such attacks and is not pushing Kyiv to take such actions.

Biden understands the consequences of the decision to allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to strike on Russian territory

US President Joe Biden understands the consequences of the decision to allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to strike targets in Russia, the White House Strategic Communications Coordinator said.

The President looked at the interagency team’s deliberations, made sure he understood the full implications of the request, and then approved it.

John KirbyWhite House Strategic Communications Coordinator

On May 30, The New York Times reported that US President Joe Biden, under pressure from his advisers and key allies, allowed Ukraine to strike military targets in Russia using American-made weapons.

On July 2, The Washington Post stated that Ukrainian authorities, in 90 minutes of negotiations, convinced the United States to allow strikes on Russian territory.

According to the publication, Ukraine was in no hurry to negotiate until Congress approved military assistance. After Russia’s offensive in the Kharkov region, Kyiv had nothing to lose, after which negotiations took place via video link with Pentagon head Lloyd Austin and US Presidential National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Joe Biden agreed to satisfy Kyiv’s request, but demanded that his subordinates agree on all the points and formalize everything properly.

The German general allowed the use of Patriot air defense systems for attacks on Russian aircraft

The head of the special headquarters for Ukraine at the German Ministry of Defense, Major General Christian Freuding, allowed the Ukrainian Armed Forces to use American-made Patriot air defense systems to strike Russian aircraft.

It is quite possible that Patriot systems will now also be used in the Kharkov area and over Russia. They can be applied within the framework of international law

Christian FreudingMajor General of the German Ministry of Defense

He expressed confidence that the Ukrainian side will comply with international law. The general did not disclose whether weapons supplied by Germany had already been used on Russian territory.

Earlier, military correspondent Alexander Kots reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had launched a counter-offensive operation. He noted that the first stage of the Ukrainian army’s counter-offensive is currently underway. Permission to strike with Western precision weapons on the Russian border was received and immediately began to be implemented, he added. In this way, Ukrainian troops are trying to suppress the control of the North group of troops.

Ukraine was predicted to have difficulties after allowing Western weapons to strike Russia

Business Insider journalists predicted difficulties for the Ukrainian military after receiving permission to strike Russian territory. In their opinion, the Ukrainian Armed Forces will face a lack of intelligence to detect targets behind the front.

Alexander Liebman, professor of Russian and East European politics at the Free University of Berlin, pointed to structural problems.

The military logic of allowing Ukraine to use weapons against Russian targets is simple, but there are structural limitations it now faces

Alexander Libman Professor

Keir Giles, senior fellow at Chatham House’s Russia and Eurasia programme, blamed the US for delays in the decision to use its weapons on Russian soil.

In turn, John Hardy, deputy director of the Russian program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracy, noted that attacks by US-supplied Storm Shadow and ATACMS missiles are not enough to turn the tide in favor of Ukraine.