Espreso. Global
Updated

US president allows Ukraine to use US weapons on Russian territory, confirms Blinken

31 May, 2024 Friday
18:19

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirms that President Joe Biden secretly authorized Ukraine to strike targets in Russia with US weapons

client/title.list_title

Blinken said this at a press conference in Prague, Radio Liberty reports.

"Over the last few weeks, Ukraine has come to us and asked for permission to use the weapons we are providing to defend against this aggression, including against Russian troops who are concentrating on the Russian side of the border and then attacking Ukraine. This is a right to the president, and as you heard, he approved the use of our weapons for this purpose," Blinken said.

Earlier, Zelenskyy said at a press conference at the third Ukraine-Northern Europe summit that the United States had sent a message about using its weapons to strike Russia.

"We had a message from the American side. Early this morning (May 31 - ed.) I received this message from my military. I can't give you details about it," he said.

According to the president, such a US permit is "a step forward, and an opportunity for Ukraine to protect the residents of the border areas.”

"I want to see what will happen in practice. But what I see is, in any case, a step forward towards this goal that we discussed earlier, to enable us to protect our people who live near the border," Zelenskyy added.

Ukrainian presidential spokesman Serhii Nykyforov also confirmed this information to The Guardian.

Nykyforov confirmed that the Biden administration had secretly approved Kyiv's use of US weapons to strike Russian territory, but that the authorization was limited to the Kharkiv region.

"This will greatly enhance our ability to counter Russian attempts to advance across the border," he said.

At the same time, Zelenskyy made it clear in an interview with the publication: Ukraine needs the ability to use "powerful" long-range weapons capable of hitting targets deep in the Russian Federation, a red line that the United States has refused to erase.

"Believe us, we have to respond. They understand nothing but force. We are not the first and not the last target," the Ukrainian president said.

He added that without the White House's green light, Ukraine's other allies, such as the United Kingdom, may not allow the use of their long-range weapons.

On May 30, Politico reported, citing a US official and two other people familiar with the matter: "Biden secretly authorized Ukraine to strike Russia with US weapons.

The US administration has secretly authorized Kyiv to use US weapons for strikes inside Russia. However, it applies only to the Kharkiv region.

The president has recently instructed his team to ensure that Ukraine can use American weapons to retaliate in the Kharkiv region so that Ukraine can retaliate against Russian forces that are striking or preparing to strike," a US official told Politico.

At the same time, he added that Washington's policy on long-range strikes against Russia remained unchanged.

Which countries allowed Ukraine to use its weapons to strike at the territory of Russia

On May 2, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said that Ukraine has the right to use British weapons to strike at Russian territory. In response, Russia threatened to strike at UK military facilities.

On May 26, Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson said that Ukraine could use weapons provided by Stockholm to hit targets in Russia.

On May 27, the Parliamentary Assembly of the North Atlantic Alliance called on the governments of all NATO member states to allow Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike at Russian targets.

Later, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine has the right to strike military targets in Russia.

Subsequently, Polish Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk said that his country supports Ukraine's right to use Western weapons to strike targets in Russia.

Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Estonia, the Czech Republic, and Finland also gave permission to use their weapons outside Ukraine.

On May 29, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said that the country had not set any conditions for the use of weapons when providing Kyiv with them.

At the same time, the United States continues to restrict Ukraine's ability to use the weapons it has been given.

On May 30, Norway said that Western countries should allow Ukraine to use their weapons on Russian territory to speed up Kyiv's victory.

On the same day, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said that Ukraine would be able to use Danish F-16 fighter jets to strike military targets in Russia.

Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2025, Friday
17 January
15:35
Exclusive
Ukrainian general names three key strategic targets for Ukraine's long-range strikes on Russia
15:12
Russia's inflation surges as Central Bank faces political pressure
14:51
Russian drone attacks Ukrainian Witness filming crew in Zaporizhzhia sector
14:34
BTR-D
Russian forces use sunk BTR-Ds to create river crossings in Kursk
14:27
Russian ballistic missile strike on Ukraine’s Kryvyi Rih leaves four dead, several injured
14:15
OPINION
Ukrainian refugees at risk: why is Slovakia threatening to halt aid?
13:50
Slovenian FM Tanja Fajon arrives in Kyiv for Ukraine-Southeast Europe summit
13:33
Ukraine to introduce basic military training in universities
13:11
Exclusive
Russian forces try to surround Velyka Novosilka from almost all directions — military expert
12:54
OPINION
"Deal of the century": grandiose rhetoric, but still missing the mark
12:30
Ukrainian forces hit Russian radar equipment in Belgorod region
12:10
Exclusive
Europe either wakes up this year or becomes Russia’s next target — Ukrainian diplomat
11:50
Exclusive
Russian forces fail to cross Oskil River in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region — Ukrainian officer
11:33
Russia launches drone barrage on Ukraine, injures child in Kyiv
11:13
Russia's attacks cause nearly one-third increase in civilian casualties in Ukraine in 2024
10:55
Russian diplomats gain unauthorized access to restricted UK Parliament area
10:36
Review
New UK agreement: financial aid, deployment of peacekeepers to Ukraine. Serhiy Zgurets’ column
10:13
Ukraine reports 141 combat clashes, halts 53 Russian attacks in Pokrovsk direction
09:54
German FM criticizes Scholz government over €3 billion aid delay to Ukraine
09:32
Russia loses 1,670 soldiers, 13 armored vehicles, 12 tanks in one day of war in Ukraine
2025, Thursday
16 January
21:20
Updated
Zelenskyy responds to Polish presidential candidate opposing Ukraine’s EU, NATO membership
20:54
Exclusive
Moscow unlikely to agree to peacekeepers in Ukraine - Institute of World Policy
20:33
Exclusive
Trust in U.S., West declines among Ukrainians - survey
20:10
Exclusive
Russia struggling to counter Ukrainian strikes on oil depots
19:51
From canal to battlefield: Russia’s push against Chasiv Yar
19:33
Exclusive
Russian forces push to expand foothold toward Borova in Kharkiv region
19:12
Exclusive
Pokrovsk holds strategic value for Putin, but he won't succeed — general Malomuzh
18:51
North Korean troops choose death over capture: military expert explains why
18:30
UN plans to raise $2.6 billion for Ukraine in 2025
18:09
Russian forces launch 31 attacks in Pokrovsk direction, most repelled by AFU
17:50
EU should delay Russia sanctions decision until Trump inauguration, Hungary says
17:30
'Russia will get our response': Zelenskyy on drone attack during meeting with Starmer in Kyiv
17:12
Russia's latest missile strike: spontaneous move or strategic shift?
16:53
Ukrainian Border Guard and Defense Forces halt Russian convoy near border
16:36
Ukraine, U.S. top generals discuss frontline situation in war with Russia
16:12
Exclusive
Why Scholz hesitates to approve €3B aid for Ukraine before election: analyst explains
15:51
Updated
Ukrainian forces strike Liskinskaya oil depot in Russia's Voronezh region
15:50
Ukraine’s air defenses repel Russian drone attack on Kyiv during British PM’s visit
15:35
Ukrainian paratroopers capture 27 Russian soldiers in Russia's Kursk region
15:33
Updated
UK, Ukraine forge historic 100-year partnership in Kyiv: Starmer, Zelenskyy sign agreement
More news