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A growing number of senior Republicans who chair congressional committees are calling on President Biden to lift restrictions preventing Ukraine from using American-made weapons to strike deep inside Russia.
What’s the deal: In a letter to President Biden, Congressman Mike Rodgers (Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee), Michael McCaul (Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee), and Mike Turner (Chairman of House Intelligence Committee), and other senior republicans called on President Biden to immediately lift the restrictions preventing US weapons from striking targets deeper in Russia.
What the lawmakers said: In their letter, the lawmakers wrote, “As long as it is conducting its brutal, full-scale war of aggression, Russia must not be given a sanctuary from which it can execute its war crimes against Ukraine with impunity. The Biden-Harris administration’s senseless restrictions, combined with the longstanding slow-rolling of critical weapons approvals and deliveries, are hindering Ukraine’s ability to bring this war to a victorious conclusion.” They continued, “It is far past time the administration reverses course and lifts the remaining restrictions on Ukraine’s use of U.S.-provided weapons against legitimate military targets in Russia.”
Democrats are on board: The letter from top Republicans comes as senior Democrats in the House and Senate continue to push President Biden to allow Ukraine to use US-supplied missiles to strike deeper into Russia. Democrats argue this would increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shares this belief, suggesting it could force Putin to end the war and negotiate.
The Biden administration’s stance: Despite the calls, President Biden has resisted, though it does appear to be slowly shifting its position on Ukraine’s use of US-made weapons against Russia. Initially, the US prohibited Ukraine from using US-made weapons to strike Russian territory. However, under pressure, President Biden granted Ukraine limited authority to target areas near the Russian-Ukrainian border. Expanding this would mark a significant policy change.
Earlier today, while in Kyiv, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “All I can tell you is we’ll be listening intently to our Ukrainian partners. We’re going to look and to listen and to make sure that we have our own best assessment of what’s needed, what the objectives are that our Ukrainian partners have in the weeks and months ahead, and how we can best support them.”
Two different views for you:
Pro: Supporters of allowing Ukraine to use US-made weapons to strike deeper into Russia argue that lifting these restrictions would allow Ukraine to fight “without one hand tied behind its back.” They claim that these limitations give Russia an “unfair” advantage, and if Ukraine had the capability to strike deeper into Russian territory with US-made weapons, it could begin ramping up attacks on Russian airbases, where aircraft used to launch strikes against Ukraine are stored.
Anti: Opponents of allowing Ukraine to use US-made weapons for deeper strikes in Russia argue that lifting the restrictions could risk provoking a direct conflict between the United States and Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously warned that any country enabling Ukraine to strike targets within Russia using long-range weapons would face the threat of direct confrontation. Critics also say that striking deeper into Russian territory would not force Putin to negotiate but instead embolden him and prolong the war.
