Biden States There Is ‘No consensus’ Regarding Ukraine Missiles
President Joe Biden stated that there was “no consensus” regarding Ukraine's use of US missiles to strike Russian territory. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The US president has declined Kiev’s request to lift the restrictions on the use of Western-supplied weapons.
US President Joe Biden stated that there remains no consensus within the administration regarding the potential for Ukraine to utilize foreign-supplied longer-range weapons to target areas deep within Russia. This declaration follows Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s recent appeal to lift the limitations on the use of Western arms.
Before departing from Berlin Brandenburg International Airport on Friday, Biden addressed the matter of Ukraine’s strikes on Russian territory. When asked if he had reconsidered his stance, he replied: “Right now, there is no consensus for long-range weapons.”
In response to a follow-up question about what circumstances would prompt a change in Washington's position, Biden remarked: “I’m not going to speculate.”
Despite rejecting Zelensky’s request, Biden reiterated the US’s commitment to supporting Ukraine. He assured reporters that, “We’re going to stay with Ukraine. We’re going to make sure they continue to have capabilities.”
This announcement followed two days after the US revealed a new military aid package worth $425 million, which will provide additional anti-air and anti-tank missiles, along with artillery shells.
Earlier this week, while presenting his “victory plan” to Ukrainian lawmakers, Zelensky once again urged for permission to use longer-range weapons “on the whole Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia and on the territory of Russia,” and called on international partners to supply Kiev with “appropriate” missiles and drones. Ukraine had submitted a revised list of proposed targets for the US-supplied ATACMS missiles.
Thus far, Washington has declined to authorize ATACMS for targeting areas well within Russian territory. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had claimed last month that such a change would not “be decisive in this campaign.”
Moscow has issued warnings that an increase in military support for Kiev would lead to a new level of dangerous escalation. President Vladimir Putin stated in September that a decision to permit the use of longer-range weapons would indicate that NATO countries would be “at war with Russia.”
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
US President Joe Biden stated that there remains no consensus within the administration regarding the potential for Ukraine to utilize foreign-supplied longer-range weapons to target areas deep within Russia. This declaration follows Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s recent appeal to lift the limitations on the use of Western arms.
Before departing from Berlin Brandenburg International Airport on Friday, Biden addressed the matter of Ukraine’s strikes on Russian territory. When asked if he had reconsidered his stance, he replied: “Right now, there is no consensus for long-range weapons.”
In response to a follow-up question about what circumstances would prompt a change in Washington's position, Biden remarked: “I’m not going to speculate.”
Despite rejecting Zelensky’s request, Biden reiterated the US’s commitment to supporting Ukraine. He assured reporters that, “We’re going to stay with Ukraine. We’re going to make sure they continue to have capabilities.”
This announcement followed two days after the US revealed a new military aid package worth $425 million, which will provide additional anti-air and anti-tank missiles, along with artillery shells.
Earlier this week, while presenting his “victory plan” to Ukrainian lawmakers, Zelensky once again urged for permission to use longer-range weapons “on the whole Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia and on the territory of Russia,” and called on international partners to supply Kiev with “appropriate” missiles and drones. Ukraine had submitted a revised list of proposed targets for the US-supplied ATACMS missiles.
Thus far, Washington has declined to authorize ATACMS for targeting areas well within Russian territory. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had claimed last month that such a change would not “be decisive in this campaign.”
Moscow has issued warnings that an increase in military support for Kiev would lead to a new level of dangerous escalation. President Vladimir Putin stated in September that a decision to permit the use of longer-range weapons would indicate that NATO countries would be “at war with Russia.”
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
