East Central Alabama News

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX), House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH), House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe Chairman Tom Kean (R-NJ), House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Chairman Ken Calvert (R-CA), and Commissioner of the Helsinki Commission Representative Richard Hudson (R-NC) have collectively urged President Biden to lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of U.S.-provided long-range systems, specifically Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS).

"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," the lawmakers wrote. "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."

The letter asserts that current restrictions impede Ukraine's efforts to counter Russia's aggression by providing sanctuary for Russian forces. The decision earlier this year to partially lift the total ban was acknowledged but deemed insufficient.

"We write to urge you to lift the remaining restrictions on Ukraine’s use of U.S.-provided long-range systems, specifically Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), against legitimate military targets deeper inside of Russia. These restrictions have hampered Ukraine’s ability to defeat Russia’s war of aggression and have given the Kremlin’s forces a sanctuary from which it can attack Ukraine with impunity," reads part of the letter.

The lawmakers challenge two main reasons provided by the administration for maintaining these restrictions: concerns about escalation and reports that some Russian assets are now out of range. They argue there remain numerous legitimate military targets within range, including military bases, logistics nodes, fuel depots, ammunition warehouses, and command and control systems.

"Neither Ukraine’s use of U.S.-provided weapons in Russia nor its military incursion into Russia’s Kursk region – the first foreign occupation of Russian territory since World War II – have triggered a Russian escalatory response," they wrote.

The letter also criticizes reports suggesting that concerns over future diplomatic relations with Russia might be influencing policy decisions. It highlights historical precedents indicating that appeasement strategies towards Vladimir Putin are ineffective.

The legislators express disappointment over alleged administrative interference preventing allies like the United Kingdom and France from allowing Ukraine to utilize their long-range missiles against Russian targets. They compare this situation to delays in approving allies' transfer of F-16 jets to Ukraine.

"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," they conclude. "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."