US strategy to deter Ukraine's attacks on Russian territory fails, says diplomat Khara

He shared his views on Espreso.

"It's evident that Russia plays a crucial role in global energy markets, and any disruptions could impact these markets. However, talk of strikes on Russian refineries seems more tied to US politics. Even a slight increase in oil prices wouldn't sit well with the current US administration," Khara explained.

According to Khara, the West restricts military aid to Ukraine due to fears of Russian escalation.

"In essence, Lloyd Austin's statement reflects the US stance on Ukraine's attacks on Russian refineries as part of the Biden administration's unsuccessful strategy to prevent Kyiv's strikes into Russian territory. This approach aims to avoid provoking the Kremlin into further escalation. Consequently, our partners provide assistance in the form of weapons that cannot be used on Russian soil, thereby preventing the conflict from spreading to their territory. However, they lack the means to prevent attacks on Russian territory, as Ukraine fights for its survival," he added.

• On April 2, authorities in Russia's Republic of Tatarstan, over 1,000 km from Ukraine, reported a drone strike on Russian facilities, allegedly resulting in casualties. It was later confirmed that Ukraine's main intelligence department attacked a factory assembling Russian attack UAVs Shahed-136/131 and an oil refining complex in Nizhnekamsk.
• The day prior, Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov stated that in 2024, Ukraine increased long-range attack drone production tenfold compared to last year. Ukraine now possesses drones capable of flying over 1,000 km.
• On April 4, a NATO representative, speaking anonymously to Reuters journalists, stated that strikes on Russian oil refineries could disable over 15% of Russian production capacity.
• Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin, on April 10, remarked that Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil refineries could impact global energy markets. He advised Ukrainians to prioritize other objectives.