Ukraine may be permitted to strike Russia with long-range missiles: US Secretary of State hints

12PUNTO FOREIGN NEWS

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a speech at a press conference in Kyiv that the US could revise its restrictions on the use of long-range missiles.

In recent weeks, Republican and Democratic senators have called for the restrictions to be lifted.

Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv alongside UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Blinken said the US is willing to adapt its 'restriction' policy as the military situation in Ukraine changes.

Blinken stated that he and Lammy would report back to their 'bosses', Joe Biden and Keir Starmer, following their meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday.

The Secretary of State emphasized that Iran's shipment of ballistic missiles to Moscow has changed strategic thinking in London and Washington, calling it a 'significant and dangerous development'.

Ukrainian officials had previously expressed frustration that the Labour government in the UK was not more decisive on the matter and had demanded that the White House 'correct' its red lines.

It has been reported that the US State Department is open to Kyiv's request. On the other hand, according to reports in the US media, some officials in the Pentagon and the US intelligence community are skeptical of the request.

In May, the US had authorized the use of advanced weapon systems, such as HIMARS, for the first time in Russia's border regions.

'TAKE THE HANDCUFFS OFF UKRAINE'

This week, senior Democrats and Republicans in Washington urged the White House to go further. In a letter, a group of senators called on Biden to 'immediately end' the limitations on the use of US long-range missiles.

Senator Roger Wicker wrote on the X platform, sharing the letter sent by the senators to Biden, 'We must take the handcuffs off Ukraine.'

I am joining my Caucus co-chairs in calling on President Biden to lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range weapons. We need to remove the handcuffs and give Ukraine every advantage. pic.twitter.com/9EJ0GQ6TSt

— Senator Roger Wicker (@SenatorWicker) September 10, 2024

News Source: 12punto