There have been whispers for days, and now – if this Reuters story is true – the Administration is finally releasing its restrictions on Ukraine’s use of American-provided weapons.

Don’t misunderstand; I am pleased, relieved, and more, but really - one has to ask where the urgency to give genuine support to Ukraine has been the last 3 ½ years, as thousands have died, and our enemies have watched us deter ourselves and act like we don’t really care who wins the war.  

Actually, it has not just been this current Administration.  I note clearly that Washington has not seriously pursued America’s vital national security interests in allowing Ukraine to defeat Russia through three presidential administrations.

Now that this Administration is coming to a close and Russia is savagely bombing Kyiv and other cities since our election, Washington is changing its position – frustrating, but it is long past time to do this, and it is good news!

Here, here.

Everything must be done to get Ukraine as many weapons, as much ammunition and support as possible - immediately.

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Biden allows Ukraine to use US arms to strike inside Russia

Mike Stone and Humeyra Pamuk | Sun, November 17, 2024 at 1:10 PM EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Joe Biden's administration will allow Ukraine to use U.S.-provided weapons to strike deep into Russian territory, three sources familiar with the matter said, in a significant change to Washington's policy in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

Ukraine plans to conduct its first long-range attacks in the coming days, the sources said, without revealing details due to operational security concerns.

The White House declined to comment.

The move by the United States two months before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20 follows months of requests by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to allow Ukraine's military to use U.S. weapons to hit Russian military targets far from its border.

The change follows Russia's deployment of North Korean ground troops to supplement its own forces, a development that has caused alarm in Washington and Kyiv.

The first deep strikes are likely to be carried out using ATACMS rockets, which have a range of up to 190 miles (306 km), according to the sources.

While some U.S. officials have expressed skepticism that allowing long-range strikes will change the war's overall trajectory, the decision could help Ukraine at a moment when Russian forces are making gains and possibly put Kyiv in a better negotiating position when and if ceasefire talks happen.

It is not clear if Trump will reverse Biden's decision when he takes office. Trump has long criticized the scale of U.S. financial and military aid to Ukraine and has vowed to end the war quickly, without explaining how.

Still, some congressional Republicans have urged Biden to loosen the rules on how Ukraine can use U.S.-provided weapons.

Russia has warned that it would see a move to loosen the limits on Ukraine's use of U.S. weapons as a major escalation.

(Reporting by Mike Stone and Humeyra Pamuk in Washington; Editing by Scott Malone and Lisa Shumaker)

ROBERT MCCONNELL
Co-Founder, U.S.-Ukraine Foundation
Director of External Affairs, Friends of Ukraine Network

The introduction is Mr. McConnell’s and does not necessarily represent the views of the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation or those of the Friends of Ukraine Network (FOUN).

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