East Central Alabama News

After weeks of sustained Congressional, international, and public pressure, the Biden administration has partially reversed its policy prohibiting Ukraine from using U.S.-provided weapons against legitimate military targets in Russian territory. According to reports, Ukraine will now be permitted to use certain U.S.-provided weapons in limited areas within Russia that neighbor Ukraine’s Kharkiv Oblast due to Russia’s ongoing offensive there. However, Ukraine remains prohibited from using U.S.-supplied ATACMs to strike targets deeper within Russian territory.

In response, U.S. Representatives Mike Rogers (R-AL), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee; Michael McCaul (R-TX), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; and Mike Turner (R-OH), Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released a joint statement:

“This decision should have been made before Russia’s recent offensive in Kharkiv, not after. Instead, the Biden administration’s continued handwringing crippled Ukraine’s response, forcing them to stand idly by and watch Russian forces prepare for an imminent attack just across its border. Moreover, by leaking to the press that the policy reversal only applies to certain U.S.-provided weapons in a limited area within Russia, the administration has telegraphed to Russia exactly how to effectively adapt to this change in policy, thereby decreasing the military effectiveness of the decision. To win this war of self-defense against Russia’s aggression, Ukraine must be allowed to use U.S.-provided weapons against any legitimate military targets in Russia, not just along the border near Kharkiv. Once again, President Biden’s policy of slow walking and half-measures is dragging out this conflict without providing Ukraine with a decisive advantage on the battlefield to force Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table as soon as possible.”