‘There are no changes in our policy’: the White House does not give Ukraine permission to strike at Russian territory
The debate over the possibility of Ukraine using weapons to hit targets on Russian territory has flared up with renewed vigour
The United States opposes the use of weapons supplied to Ukraine to strike targets in Russia. This was stated by John Kirby, Strategic Communications Coordinator at the White House National Security Council, at a briefing on Tuesday, 28 May.
‘There is no change in our policy on this issue,’ he said. – ‘We do not encourage the use of weapons supplied by the United States to Ukraine to strike at Russia, and we do not allow it.
The debate about the possibility of using precision long-range weapons supplied by the West to Ukraine to hit targets in Russia has reignited after NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's interview with The Economist on 24 May, where he said:
‘The time has come for the allies to consider lifting some of the restrictions on the use of the weapons they have given to Ukraine.’
The day before, French President Emmanuel Macron also said at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on 28 May that the West should allow Ukraine to use precision long-range weapons to neutralise military bases in Russia from which attacks on Ukraine are being launched.
For his part, Olaf Scholz was more vague, stressing that the use of weapons supplied to Kyiv by the United States, France and Germany should be in accordance with international law.
At the same time, according to the German Prime Minister, ‘Ukraine, from the point of view of international law, has every opportunity to do what it is doing’.
‘We need to make it clear: Ukraine is under attack, and it can defend itself,’ Scholz added.
Background. If you don't have time to listen to Jens Stoltenberg's interview in full, we offer an adapted translation of his main themes and points – read more in the article ‘The Interview. NATO Secretary General calls for allowing Ukraine to strike Russia with Western weapons. The main points’.
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