Former US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland stated on Sunday (May 19) that Ukraine should be able to target Russian bases and that it is “time” for the US to lift the ban on targeting military objectives within Russia.
In an interview with the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) news program “This Week,” Nuland said that the US and its allies should provide more assistance to Ukraine in targeting Russian bases.
Recently, Russia made significant territorial gains in the northeastern region of Kharkiv in Ukraine after nearly 18 months. Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine not on the front lines, has seen an escalation in Russian attacks. A delegation of five Ukrainian lawmakers visited Washington last week to meet with officials from the Biden administration and members of Congress in an effort to push for the revocation of the weapons ban.
At the same time, Ukraine has requested assistance from the Biden administration in identifying targets within Russia for Kyiv to use its own weapons to retaliate.
Ukrainian leaders have repeatedly stated that their own weapons are not as effective as US-made ones in targeting legitimate military objectives within Russia.
A White House spokesperson stated that the current US policy does not support providing such targeting assistance within Russia or using US weapons in such a manner. The spokesperson said, “We do not encourage or facilitate attacks within Russia, that is our long-standing policy.”
Russia recently launched attacks on Kharkiv from Belgorod, about 40 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Some Ukrainian officials believe that allowing them to target objectives within that Russian state could have prevented these attacks.
Victoria Nuland, retired in March this year, told media outlets that the attack on Kharkiv demonstrates that it is time for the US to assist Ukraine in targeting Russian bases.
Nuland stated, “I think now is the time because Russia has clearly escalated this war,” and “I think it’s time to provide more assistance to the Ukrainian people to target these bases within Russia.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during his visit to Kyiv last week, expressed the US commitment to ensuring Ukraine can win the war against Russia but emphasized that this embattled country should focus on reclaiming occupied territories.