Ukraine will make its own decisions: Blinken on using US weapons to strike Russia

Archive photo: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)

The United States did not endorse the attacks on Russian territory with American weapons, but Ukraine will have to make its own decisions, according to the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

White House Administration's policy criticism

Michael McCaul, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, states that the Russian forces are positioning all their artillery and missiles directly on the border with Ukraine, which they then use to attack Ukrainians.

"However, your administration and Jake Sullivan have restricted the arms use so that Ukraine cannot defend itself and fire back at Russia," he said.

He explained that the White House administration does not allow the use of ATACMS or HIMARS missiles for attacks on Russian territory. He drew a parallel with the White House administration's attempt to pursue a similar policy with Israel, limiting its arms supply. He asked Blinken whether the White House would change its policy so that Ukraine could fight "without one hand tied behind its back".

The position of the Secretary of State

Blinken stated that over the past two years, the United States has rallied 50 countries to come to Ukraine's defense and provide it with the necessary weapons to defend against and repel Russian aggression.

"When it comes to enabling and endorsing attacks outside of Ukraine, that's not something we've done. But Ukraine will have to make and will make its own decisions and I want to make sure it gets the equipment that it needs," said Blinken.

Response to Blinken

McCaul stated that the US Congress has approved military assistance to Ukraine and didn't put any restrictions on its use.

"It's Jake Sullivan and your administration that put restrictions on these weapons, and I talked to them. They cannot achieve victory with these restrictions that you, not the Congress, have placed on them. I hope you'll change this policy decision that is very dangerous and damaging to Ukrainian people," stated the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Ukraine asks the West to allow it to strike Russia with American weapons

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urges US officials to approve the possibility of striking military targets on Russian territory, which could inflict serious damage on the Russian army. However, President Joe Biden is against it.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, stated today that Ukraine should be allowed to wage war as it sees fit, and attempting to control efforts at the micro-level is not a very good policy for the United States.