Pressure is mounting on US President Joe Biden to permit Ukraine to use Western-supplied weapons to strike Russian territory. This week, several US allies expressed openness to this possibility.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of "serious consequences," particularly for what he termed "small countries" in Europe. On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Washington’s position on the matter would "adapt and adjust" based on evolving battlefield conditions. He made this statement while in Prague for a NATO foreign ministers' meeting.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby clarified late on Wednesday that, despite the evolving US support for Kyiv, "right now, there's also no change to our policy."
Ukraine has been struggling to counter a Russian offensive in the east, with Kharkiv enduring weeks of deadly attacks, often launched from Russian military outposts near the Ukrainian border.
Mr. Blinken’s remarks during his European trip followed more direct comments from French President Emmanuel Macron. Macron suggested that Ukraine should be allowed to use Western-supplied weapons against military sites on Russian territory, although not against civilian targets. Macron has long advocated for more direct intervention in the Ukraine conflict, and other Western leaders seem to be warming to this idea.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been cautious in public, but a Berlin spokesperson indicated that "defensive action is not limited to one's own territory but also includes the territory of the aggressor."
Last week, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg told The Economist that the West should permit Ukraine to defend itself by striking military bases in Russia, stating, “Ukraine has the right to defend themselves. And that includes striking targets on Russian territory.”
UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron recently noted that it is up to Ukraine to decide how to use British weapons. This week, the Polish Deputy Defence Minister echoed this sentiment, saying Ukrainians could use Polish weapons “as they see fit.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has argued it is "unfair" for Western countries to impose limits on their weapon use, while acknowledging the necessity of maintaining support from partners.
Russia has reacted strongly to the possibility of Western weapons being used against its territory. Putin warned European countries, especially smaller ones, about the risks they are taking, noting their small size and dense populations. He added that Western arms suppliers would bear responsibility for any strikes on Russian soil, even if carried out by Ukrainian forces.
Some NATO countries remain apprehensive. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated on Thursday that hitting Russian military bases was unnecessary and urged the West to supply more air defenses to Ukraine instead.
It is believed that Ukraine has already used some Western-supplied weapons to attack Russian territory, though it has done so discreetly. Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze mentioned that some countries had provided weapons to Ukraine “without conditions,” but not all details are publicly disclosed.
The US has supplied Ukraine with thousands of defensive weapons, tanks, and air defense systems. Since April, it has also sent Ukraine the longest-range version of ATACMS missiles, which can travel 190 miles (300km).
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