Pentagon on allowing Ukraine to strike Russian territory - No change in our policy

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh (photo: Getty Images)

The US Department of Defense, as before, does not allow Ukraine to use US-provided weapons to strike targets on Russian territory. Ukraine should focus on tactical and operational targets within its borders, Pentagon officials believe, according to a briefing by Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh.

The briefing by the US Defense Department representative took place on May 30 at 21:30 Kyiv time.

"So, there's been no change in our policy. The security assistance that we provide Ukraine is to be used within Ukraine, and we don't encourage attacks or enable attacks inside of Russia," Singh said in response to a question about whether the department is indeed considering granting Ukraine such permission.

She also noted that the Pentagon believes that Ukraine can be effective by focusing on tactical and operational targets that directly affect the conflict within its borders, rather than on larger geopolitical goals in Russia.

Approval by the US for strikes on Russia

Yesterday, May 30, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested that the administration of President Joe Biden may allow Ukraine to use American weapons to strike Russian territory.

Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, Yehor Chernyev, stated that the US may grant Ukraine a secret permission to use American weapons for strikes against Russia.

The Washington Post reported, citing a source, that the US does not impose restrictions on Ukraine's use of US-supplied air defense systems to eliminate Russian missiles or aircraft over Russian territory, if they pose a threat to Ukraine.