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Which American Weapons Ukraine Can Use to Strike russia, But Not Long-Range ATACMS Missiles

HIMARS launching a GMLRS rocket / Photo credit: U.S. Department of Defense
HIMARS launching a GMLRS rocket / Photo credit: U.S. Department of Defense

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed for the first time that President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to utilize the American-provided weapons for striking russia

According to The Wall Street Journal, Ukraine has been permitted by the United States to conduct strikes on russia using American weapons, although not all types have been authorized.

"The new US policy will allow Ukrainian forces to use artillery and launch short-range rockets from HIMARS launchers against command posts, arms depots, and other assets on russian territory that are used by russian forces to attack Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine. However, this policy does not allow Ukraine to use longer-range land-to-land ATACMS missiles on russian territory," the agency reports.

Read more: Opinion: Ukraine to be Granted Permission to Use Western Weapons in russian Territory
High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) , Defense Express
High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) / Photo credit: U.S. Department of Defense

As later reported by a representative of the US National Security Council, Michael Carpenter, Ukraine can defend itself as necessary.

"Ukraine can use American weapons for its defense and strike russian formations near the border where necessary," said Carpenter.

As previously disclosed, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron stated that Ukraine possesses the authority to employ British weaponry for striking russian territory.

Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson stated on May 26 that Ukraine could utilize arms supplied by Stockholm to target locations within russia.

On May 27, the Parliamentary Assembly of the North Atlantic Alliance urged all NATO member states' governments to authorize Ukraine to employ Western weaponry for attacking russian targets.

Following that, French President Emmanuel Macron affirmed Ukraine's entitlement to target military objectives within russia.

In a subsequent statement, Polish Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk expressed his country's backing for Ukraine's authorization to employ Western armaments in striking russian targets.

On May 29, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly declared that the country had not imposed any conditions on the use of weapons while supplying them to Kyiv.

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

On May 30, Norway advocated for Western nations to permit Ukraine to utilize their weapons within russian territory to hasten Kyiv's victory.

F-16 fighter jets
F-16 fighter jets / Photo credit: Forsvarsgalleriet

On the same day, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen announced that Ukraine would have access to Danish F-16 fighter jets for targeting military objectives in russia.

Read more: Stoltenberg Urges NATO to Lift Restrictions on Ukraine's Use of Western Weapons