US debates deeper strikes: Ukraine's push for long-range attacks
Ukraine is consistently trying to convince the USA to allow it to strike deep into Russian targets with American long-range weaponry. Ukraine can strike deep into Russia with its weapons; it doesn't need permission, said a US State Department spokesperson.
"They are a sovereign country and can use the weapons that they build on their own, of which are many," emphasized US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller when asked why the United States continues to maintain restrictions on attacks deep into Russia using American long-range weapons.
"If you look at the programs that they have put in place over the last year. And then when you look at the weapons that we have provided to them, we’ve made clear that they can use them to strike back against Russian targets across the border that are launching attacks. So Ukraine does have an enormous amount of material to defend itself," he said.
He also recalled that during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the USA, President Joe Biden announced additional military aid for Ukraine.
US concerns
"U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded Russia is likely to retaliate with greater force if the U.S. and its allies permit Ukraine to fire long-range missiles into Russia," wrote the New York Times.
Analysts point out such a crucial decision's potential risks and uncertain benefits. They note that the Ukrainian army has a limited number of such missiles, and it is unclear whether Western allies will provide Kyiv with more and, if so, how many.
It is unknown what decision US President Joe Biden will make, who met with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday at the White House. Zelensky is lobbying for permission to use long-range missiles and take the war onto Russian territory.
The NYT emphasizes that the Kremlin often uses threats to deter the West from supplying Ukraine with more advanced weaponry. Critics of Biden and his allies argue that they are too easily intimidated by Putin's rhetoric. On the other hand, supporters note that this approach has managed to avoid an aggressive Russian response.
US aid sufficient until February
Meanwhile, analysts from the Center for Eastern Studies Jacek Tarociński and Andrzej Kohut assessed that the $8 billion in military aid from the USA to Ukraine should be sufficient for Kyiv until February 2025, when the USA will have a new president. Until then, Ukraine cannot afford an offensive.
Meanwhile, Russia is increasing its war budget for 2025 by 23%, from 10.8 trillion rubles planned for this year to 13.5 trillion rubles (approximately 145 billion USD), Reuters reported on Monday, citing the published draft of the three-year budget.
