Pentagon Clarifies Reasons for Not Modifying Missile Guidelines for Ukraine
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has justified the choice to prohibit Kiev from conducting long-range strikes on Russia using US weaponry. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has defended the U.S. decision to maintain restrictions on Ukraine's ability to conduct long-range strikes against Russia using U.S. weapons.
According to Austin, the U.S. should adhere to its established policy of preventing Ukraine from launching deep strikes into Russia, asserting that there are currently no valid military targets within range. In an interview with Fox News released on Tuesday, he addressed the ongoing challenges faced by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky regarding requests for access to ATACMS missiles, which can reach approximately 300km.
Austin stated that “the Russians have already moved their aircraft beyond the range of ATACMS.” He further noted that Ukraine is now capable of producing its own drones, enabling strikes at distances of 400km or more.
Two primary elements of Zelensky's ‘victory plan’ include lifting Western restrictions on foreign-made long-range weapons and a prompt invitation for NATO membership. In response, Moscow has characterized Kiev’s proposal as a “set of incoherent slogans” aimed at inciting “NATO members towards a direct conflict” with Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has cautioned Western nations against permitting Ukraine to utilize these long-range weapons against Russian targets, indicating that such actions could provoke a direct confrontation and potentially lead to nuclear war. He claimed that Ukraine would struggle to execute such strikes independently, as they rely on targeting information provided by NATO.
In response to perceived threats, Putin has directed a revision of Russia's nuclear doctrine to categorize “aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state” as a “joint attack.” This would establish grounds for the potential use of nuclear weapons.
A report from The New York Times in September indicated that U.S. intelligence believed a shift in policy regarding long-range strikes could lead to severe retaliation from Moscow, including “sabotage targeting facilities in Europe” and “potentially lethal attacks on U.S. and European military bases.”
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
According to Austin, the U.S. should adhere to its established policy of preventing Ukraine from launching deep strikes into Russia, asserting that there are currently no valid military targets within range. In an interview with Fox News released on Tuesday, he addressed the ongoing challenges faced by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky regarding requests for access to ATACMS missiles, which can reach approximately 300km.
Austin stated that “the Russians have already moved their aircraft beyond the range of ATACMS.” He further noted that Ukraine is now capable of producing its own drones, enabling strikes at distances of 400km or more.
Two primary elements of Zelensky's ‘victory plan’ include lifting Western restrictions on foreign-made long-range weapons and a prompt invitation for NATO membership. In response, Moscow has characterized Kiev’s proposal as a “set of incoherent slogans” aimed at inciting “NATO members towards a direct conflict” with Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has cautioned Western nations against permitting Ukraine to utilize these long-range weapons against Russian targets, indicating that such actions could provoke a direct confrontation and potentially lead to nuclear war. He claimed that Ukraine would struggle to execute such strikes independently, as they rely on targeting information provided by NATO.
In response to perceived threats, Putin has directed a revision of Russia's nuclear doctrine to categorize “aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state” as a “joint attack.” This would establish grounds for the potential use of nuclear weapons.
A report from The New York Times in September indicated that U.S. intelligence believed a shift in policy regarding long-range strikes could lead to severe retaliation from Moscow, including “sabotage targeting facilities in Europe” and “potentially lethal attacks on U.S. and European military bases.”
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
