US Set to Permit Ukraine Use of Long-Range Missiles for Strikes on Russia, Reports Say
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to announce a policy shift during his visit to Kiev, accompanied by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Washington could potentially relax its constraints on allowing Kyiv to use US-supplied ATACMS missiles for operations deep within Russian borders, according to a claim by an Axios journalist sourced from a well-informed Congressional member.
These restrictions were initially established so that the US and its partners could maintain a stance of non-direct involvement in the conflict with Russia, despite providing Ukraine with weapons valued at over $200 billion. Since May, Ukraine has been actively seeking the removal of these constraints.
It is speculated that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken might reveal this change in policy during a visit to Kyiv alongside his UK counterpart, David Lammy, as reported by Axios reporter Juliegrace Brufke, based on information from Congressman Michael McCaul.
“I talked to Blinken two days ago, and he is traveling with his counterpart from the UK to Kiev to basically tell them that they will allow them [to hit Russia with ATACMS],” McCaul, a Texas Republican and Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, stated in an interview conducted last Friday with Brufke.
A visit by Blinken to Kyiv on Wednesday has been confirmed by State Department spokesman Matt Miller, noting it aims to “show continued support for Ukraine’s defense,” though he did not confirm any changes in policy.
Furthermore, a Bloomberg report on Tuesday mentioned that Blinken had “signaled” a potential shift in Washington's stance following allegations that Iran has supplied Russia with ballistic missiles.
“We’re going to look and to listen” to Ukraine’s requests, Blinken mentioned during a press conference in London with Lammy. He noted that US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer are scheduled to discuss the “missile issue” on Friday in Washington.
“We’re working that out now,” Biden remarked to journalists on Tuesday regarding Ukraine's use of long-range missiles.
Additionally, Blinken addressed concerns about Iran’s alleged missile deliveries to Russia, suggesting that Moscow could deploy them against Ukraine soon.
Despite these Western claims, Iran has strongly refuted any involvement in supplying missiles to Russia. “No missile was sent to Russia and this claim is a kind of psychological warfare,” declared senior military commander Fazlollah Nozari. Nasser Kanaani, a spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, added, “Iran’s accusers are the ones who are among the biggest arms exporters to one side of the war.”
The issue of Western involvement in arming Kyiv is set to be a topic at the upcoming Security Council meeting on Friday, as stated by Vassily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to the UN.
Until August 27, the Pentagon has consistently upheld that its policy regarding the use of long-range weapons by Ukraine remains unchanged. This was before a visit to Washington by Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Andrey Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff, who reportedly presented a list of Russian targets they wanted permission to attack.
Ukraine has not shied away from targeting deep into Russian territory, evidenced by drone attacks reaching as far as Moscow, including a notable instance in May 2023 where a drone landed on the Kremlin. More recently, another Ukrainian drone hit a residential area in the Moscow Region, resulting in one fatality and injuries to three civilians.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
These restrictions were initially established so that the US and its partners could maintain a stance of non-direct involvement in the conflict with Russia, despite providing Ukraine with weapons valued at over $200 billion. Since May, Ukraine has been actively seeking the removal of these constraints.
It is speculated that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken might reveal this change in policy during a visit to Kyiv alongside his UK counterpart, David Lammy, as reported by Axios reporter Juliegrace Brufke, based on information from Congressman Michael McCaul.
“I talked to Blinken two days ago, and he is traveling with his counterpart from the UK to Kiev to basically tell them that they will allow them [to hit Russia with ATACMS],” McCaul, a Texas Republican and Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, stated in an interview conducted last Friday with Brufke.
A visit by Blinken to Kyiv on Wednesday has been confirmed by State Department spokesman Matt Miller, noting it aims to “show continued support for Ukraine’s defense,” though he did not confirm any changes in policy.
Furthermore, a Bloomberg report on Tuesday mentioned that Blinken had “signaled” a potential shift in Washington's stance following allegations that Iran has supplied Russia with ballistic missiles.
“We’re going to look and to listen” to Ukraine’s requests, Blinken mentioned during a press conference in London with Lammy. He noted that US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer are scheduled to discuss the “missile issue” on Friday in Washington.
“We’re working that out now,” Biden remarked to journalists on Tuesday regarding Ukraine's use of long-range missiles.
Additionally, Blinken addressed concerns about Iran’s alleged missile deliveries to Russia, suggesting that Moscow could deploy them against Ukraine soon.
Despite these Western claims, Iran has strongly refuted any involvement in supplying missiles to Russia. “No missile was sent to Russia and this claim is a kind of psychological warfare,” declared senior military commander Fazlollah Nozari. Nasser Kanaani, a spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, added, “Iran’s accusers are the ones who are among the biggest arms exporters to one side of the war.”
The issue of Western involvement in arming Kyiv is set to be a topic at the upcoming Security Council meeting on Friday, as stated by Vassily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to the UN.
Until August 27, the Pentagon has consistently upheld that its policy regarding the use of long-range weapons by Ukraine remains unchanged. This was before a visit to Washington by Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Andrey Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff, who reportedly presented a list of Russian targets they wanted permission to attack.
Ukraine has not shied away from targeting deep into Russian territory, evidenced by drone attacks reaching as far as Moscow, including a notable instance in May 2023 where a drone landed on the Kremlin. More recently, another Ukrainian drone hit a residential area in the Moscow Region, resulting in one fatality and injuries to three civilians.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
