The White House has not ruled out giving Ukraine permission to use Western-supplied weapons for long-range attacks on Russia, despite reservations from the Pentagon, the news outlet has reported.
The Biden administration is still discussing whether to allow Ukraine to use Western-provided weapons to strike targets deep inside Russia, according to Politico.
Authorization for such strikes is reportedly part of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s proposed “victory plan,” which he is currently advocating for in the US. However, Biden made no mention of long-range attacks following his meeting with Zelensky at the White House on Thursday.
In its article on Friday, the outlet cited two sources who said the White House is “still considering” the option of allowing such strikes.
The Biden administration has not outright rejected the idea, despite the Pentagon’s belief that such strikes would be unlikely to have a significant strategic impact, Politico emphasized.
For months, Zelensky has been pushing for permission to use US-made ATACMS, British Storm Shadows, and French SCALP missiles to target areas within internationally recognized Russian territory. The UK and France have indicated they are willing to allow such attacks, but only if Washington does so first.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that such a move would directly involve the US and its allies in the conflict, given that Kyiv is unable to launch sophisticated weapons without Western assistance and targeting data.
Putin said that Moscow might retaliate asymmetrically by supplying advanced weaponry to groups or countries hostile to Washington, such as North Korea.
The sources also told Politico that Biden and his close advisors are “somewhat dubious” about Zelensky’s “victory plan.” They have privately questioned his decision to launch an offensive into Russia’s Kursk Region, which required the redeployment of Ukrainian troops from key areas on the front in Donbass, and express concern over Kyiv’s long-term prospects in the conflict.
Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on Friday that Ukraine has lost more than 17,750 troops and several hundred pieces of military equipment, including 131 tanks and 97 armored personnel carriers, since the start of its Kursk operation on August 6.