Official announcements from the U.S. government or major news outlets

Biden Authorizes Ukraine to Strike Inside Russia with U.S. Weapons Near Kharkiv

May 31, 2024, 02:38 AM

In a significant policy shift, President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied weapons to strike military targets inside Russia. This decision, confirmed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, comes after weeks of pressure from European allies, lawmakers, and Ukrainian officials. The authorization is limited to targets near the Kharkiv and Belgorod regions, with specific restrictions in place, such as the prohibition of long-range ATACMS missiles. The move aims to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian attacks originating from these areas. The new policy went into effect on May 13th, marking a departure from the previous U.S. stance of restricting the use of American weapons to Ukrainian territory.