Antony Blinken’s ex-deputy Victoria Nuland says Russian bases should be ‘fair game’ for Ukraine

Former Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland said Sunday that Russian bases should be “fair targets” for Ukraine, amid growing debate over lifting a ban on firing U.S. weapons at targets in Russia. suggested.

“I think there’s also the question of whether we, the United States and our allies, should cooperate more in attacking Russian bases, and up until now we have not been willing to do that,” Nuland said in an interview with ABC News this week.

Asked whether he thought Ukraine should attack Russian bases, Nuland said: “If the attack is being carried out directly across Russia’s borders, wherever the missiles are launched, or I think those bases should be given a fair fight, no matter where they come from.” Where are they and where are their troops supplied? ”

Russia recently launched a Kharkow attack from neighboring Belgorod Oblast, but some Ukrainian officials have argued that the attack could have been prevented had it been allowed to attack targets in the Russian region.

Nuland, who retired in March, has often faced criticism for her views on actions in Russia and Ukraine. She claimed on Sunday that the attack in Kharkiv showed that “the time has come” for the United States to support attacks on Russian bases in Ukraine.

“Russia has clearly escalated this war, as you said, by attacking Kharkov, Russia’s second largest city, which is not on the front lines, and trying to wipe it out without using any military force whatsoever, so I think it’s time for boots on the ground,” Nuland said. “So I think it’s time to give the Ukrainians more support to attack bases inside Russia.”

A delegation of five Ukrainian lawmakers traveled to Washington last week to meet with Biden administration officials and members of Congress to urge the U.S. to lift the ban.

Ukrainian leaders say their weapons are inferior to Russia’s legal weapons compared to US-made weapons, including valuable long-range artillery like the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and Army Tactical Weapons missile-launching weapons. It has repeatedly argued that it is not very effective at attacking military targets. missile system (ATACMS).

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who visited Kiev last week, said the United States is committed to ensuring Ukraine wins its war with Russia, but the warring countries are focused on regaining Ukrainian territory. He emphasized that it should be done.

“This Week” co-anchor Martha Raddatz pressed Nuland on why she thinks targeting Russian bases is a good idea, given the Biden administration’s concerns about further escalation in relations between Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Because Russia is the one who escalated this war. Russia has learned how we can allow Ukraine to use weapons and withdraw troops from areas where we can get support,” Nuland responded. “So they are directly benefiting from our hesitation in this war, and they are escalating it significantly.

Nuland also argued that months of delays in U.S. aid to Ukraine have affected Russia’s recent progress. After more than a year of deadlock in Congress, lawmakers passed a national security supplement bill last month that would send $61 billion to Ukraine.

“I think they are [Ukraine] I’m sure we can turn this around, Martha. But the six-month delay certainly made a difference. We need our artillery on the front lines in Ukraine,” Nuland said. “They need more air defenses. They need to be able to deter Russian attacks coming from bases inside Russia.”