The Biden administration is facing increasing pressure to lift the ban on Ukraine using U.S. weapons to target deep inside Russia. President Biden, when asked by reporters about allowing Ukraine to utilize the long-range Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) against targets in Russia, acknowledged that the administration is “working that out right now.”
Support for lifting the ban extends across the political aisle. A group of influential House Republicans sent a letter to the President, arguing that these restrictions have hindered Ukraine’s ability to effectively counter Russia’s aggression and have inadvertently provided a safe haven for Russian forces to launch attacks on Ukraine with impunity. Among the signatories were House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul, House Intelligence Committee Chair Michael Turner, and House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers, along with other prominent committee leaders.
The letter criticizes the Biden administration’s current approach, contrasting it with statements from prominent Republicans like Donald Trump, who have indicated he could bring a diplomatic end to the conflict. Additionally, a group of former high-level national security officials, representing a spectrum of liberal and progressive viewpoints, have penned a letter urging the U.S. and U.K. to allow unrestricted use of their weapons to strike Russian territory.
Adding to the pressure, a bipartisan group of House and Senate members have sent another letter, emphasizing that the current ban has allowed Russia to feel complacent in its offensive operations. They contend that easing restrictions on Western weapons will not provoke Moscow to escalate the conflict. “We urge you to listen to your partners in Kyiv this week and allow Ukraine to strike all legitimate targets in Russia with the weapons the U.S. and U.K. have provided. Let Ukraine defend itself,” they wrote.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly implored U.S. officials to remove the restrictions, arguing that it is crucial to the success of Ukraine’s defense. While Washington has partially relaxed the restrictions in recent months, allowing Ukraine to use U.S. weapons for defensive strikes within Ukrainian territory, Zelensky continues to push for broader authorization.
In response to the growing pressure, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken travelled to Kyiv with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy to gather information on how long-range strikes could factor into Ukraine’s overall battlefield strategy. The U.K. is also considering allowing Ukraine to strike deeper into Russia with its own long-range system, the Storm Shadow. While Blinken did not signal any shift in policy, he emphasized the U.S.’s commitment to adapting to Russia’s aggression, suggesting that a final decision might be made during Biden’s upcoming meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Washington on Friday.
While the debate surrounding lifting the ban on long-range strikes continues, concerns remain regarding the potential for escalating the conflict and depleting U.S. resources. Some argue that providing Ukraine with more ATACMS could negatively impact U.S. military preparedness, particularly if the weapons are used to strike deep into Russia. Others worry that such a move could lead to a dangerous escalation of the war.
However, proponents of lifting the ban emphasize that Ukraine is already utilizing ATACMS against targets in Crimea, which Russia claims as its territory. They argue that allowing Ukraine to strike deeper into Russia would ultimately aid in weakening Russia’s military capabilities and potentially bring a quicker end to the conflict. This ongoing debate, amidst the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, underscores the delicate balance the U.S. faces in providing support without directly escalating the conflict.
