The Biden administration is currently considering adopting a plan backed by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) that would allow Ukraine to attack Russia with U.S.-supplied weapons.
of The New York Times This week, the State Department, led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, push The Biden administration has authorized Ukraine to attack missile and artillery sites provided by the United States in Russia in preparation for a long-term conflict with Russia.
“If the attacks are coming directly across Russia’s border, then I think those bases should be targeted,” said Victoria Nuland, who left the State Department’s No. 3 job.
“This is part of our defense. How can we protect ourselves from these attacks? This is the only way,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends the commemoration of the first anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 24, 2023 (Press Office of the President of Ukraine via The Associated Press)
The dramatic proposal for an escalation of tensions came after Prime Minister Johnson said he supported proposals to attack Russia.
“I think we need to allow Ukraine to wage war however they see fit. They need to be able to fight back. And I don’t think it’s good policy for us to try to micromanage our efforts there,” the Louisiana congressman said.
The idea came after House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio), Ranking Committee Member Jim Himes (D-Conn.) and other committee members urged the Biden administration to adopt the escalation measure in a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
They wrote:
Ukraine’s allies are seeking authorization to use certain weapons provided by the United States to conduct operations against strategic targets. Within Russia and in areas under Russian control. According to a May 14 report by Politico, the Biden Administration’s current policy limits Ukraine’s ability to repel Russian forces near Kharkiv with U.S.-made weapons. Ukrainian officials have watched for weeks as Russian forces attacked Ukrainian communities from Russian territory with impunity. The Administration’s current policy leaves Ukrainians unable to defend themselves. It is essential that the Biden Administration give Ukrainian military leaders the ability to conduct any operations necessary to respond to unprovoked Russian attacks on sovereign territory. [emphasis added].
“We ask for your help in expediting the delivery of resources to our friends in Ukraine as they continue to defend their territory from brutal Russian aggression and aggression,” they concluded in their letter to Austin.
Sean Moran is a policy reporter for Breitbart News. Follow him on Twitter. Sean Moran 3.
