Kirby: US ready to discuss with Ukraine expansion of geography of strikes on Russia

Washington is ready to discuss with Kyiv the expansion of strikes on Russian territory, said John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator at the White House National Security Council.

‘I think it shouldn't shock anyone that Zelenskyy is grateful on the one hand and continues to push his case on the other. We will continue discussions. We have changed our approach in supporting Ukraine,’ Kirby said at a briefing, answering a question about the expansion of the geography of US strikes on targets in Russia.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Ukraine will ask for an expansion of the use of Western weapons.

Last week, the US and EU countries authorised Ukraine to attack internationally recognised Russian territory with Western weapons. In the case of the United States, the permit concerns the use of HIMARS, artillery systems and missiles with a range of up to 70-80 km along the border areas from where Russian troops attack Ukrainian territory.

At the same time, Washington continues to prohibit strikes using ATACMS missiles with a range of up to 300 km.

Kyiv received official permission from Washington on 30 May.

In this regard, The New York Times sources said they expected the strikes to take place within hours or days. According to telegram channels, Kyiv used the US permission for the first time on 3 June. Using the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed at least two launchers and several auxiliary vehicles of the S-300/S-400 air defence system in Belgorod region.