Senior U.S. officials said on Thursday that the Biden administration has decided to allow Ukraine to use U.S.-made weapons to attack inside Russia in an effort to blunt Russia’s offensive in the Kharkiv region.
The decision came after weeks of discussions with Ukraine following Russia’s massive attack on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.
A U.S. official said Ukrainians have asked the United States to give them greater latitude in defending Kharkiv because it is located in northeastern Ukraine, close to Russia, and Russian forces have been firing artillery and missile attacks on areas around the city from inside Russia.
U.S. officials said President Biden’s permission was only intended to allow Ukraine to attack Russian military bases used in attacks on the Kharkiv region.
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken told reporters traveling with him in Moldova on Wednesday that the United States would “adapt and adjust” to battlefield conditions. This was in response to a question about whether Biden would soon allow Ukraine to use American-made weapons to attack Russia. This strongly suggests that the president is making a decision to allow Ukraine.
The leaders of NATO, France and Germany have recently urged the United States to make such a decision. In internal government discussions, Mr. Blinken, who will attend a NATO meeting in Prague on Thursday and Friday and visited Ukraine more than two weeks ago, has advocated moving in that direction.
Politico reported Biden’s decision earlier Thursday.
