In the wake of Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region two weeks ago, there was an almost choreographed symphony of calls for the White House to remove all restrictions on Ukraine’s ability to use American weapons for strikes deep inside Russian territory. The White House has given Ukraine limited approval, but has so far limited it to regions just over Ukraine’s border into Russia. In a new article in Politico released August 24, they report that “Ukrainian officials have been huddling with members of Congress” and other “top U.S. officials to get President Joe Biden to change his mind,” on these restrictions.
The article spins all kinds of stories. One “senior Ukrainian advisor” apparently told Politico: “There’s some indication now that Biden might want to do something big on Ukraine—maybe lifting some of the restrictions—before the election now that he’s not running. There’s no guarantee, but we’re hearing that he’s thinking about it.”
Politico writes that they spoke with eight officials from the U.S., Ukraine, or EU, who are knowledgeable about the internal discussions around approval for longer strikes into Russia. They claim there are currently discussions going on about allowing Ukraine to use British-made Storm Shadow missiles to strike Russian airfields and supply depots, but since these missiles use U.S.-made components, the White House would need to approve it first. The Biden administration is aware of this discussion, Politico writes.
White House spokesman John Kirby also admitted that such deliberations are taking place. When asked whether Washington had expanded the targeting zone following Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk region earlier this week, Kirby responded: “As you know, the President has authorized them to use American munitions across that border to respond to looming threats. We’re still negotiating with them.”
In perhaps the only reflection of the reality of the situation this discussion implies—namely the danger of nuclear World War III breaking out as Russia perceives the US as being increasingly in direct conflict with it—Politico includes this comment at the end of the article: “Officials in certain corners of the administration, particularly inside the White House, have told the Ukrainians that the U.S. will eventually want to reset relations with Moscow and lifting the restrictions could upend those efforts.”
