US should allow, encourage Ukraine's strikes on Russian territory – Helsinki Commission

The US Helsinki Commission reported this recommendation.

It highlights that the Russian army's offensive in the Kharkiv region poses a threat to over a million civilians and jeopardizes Ukraine's defense.

The US Helsinki Commission stated on May 15 that the US should "not only allow but encourage" Ukrainian forces to strike Russian forces firing and staging in Russia's border areas as part of Russia's offensive operations into the northern Kharkiv region.

The Institute for the Study of War estimated that US restrictions have created safe zones in Russia's border regions. From these areas, Russian aircraft can launch aerial attacks on Ukrainian positions and civilian areas, and Russian troops and equipment can gather freely before combat.

"This US policy is severely compromising Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russian offensive operations in northern Kharkiv Oblast," analysts argue.

Background: The US Helsinki Commission, also known as the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, is an independent US government agency established by Congress in 1975 to monitor and promote compliance with the Helsinki Accords and other obligations of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

• On May 1, the Latvian Foreign Minister stated that Ukraine had received Western weapons from some partners, with permission to use them for strikes on Russian territory.