Biden allows Ukraine to use U.S. weapons in Kharkiv region

U.S. President Joe Biden has permitted Ukraine to use American-supplied weapons against Russian forces, but only within the Kharkiv region, reports BBC.

One of the American officials told BBC News that Joe Biden's team decided to provide Ukraine with the ability to use American weapons for "counter-fire purposes" to "respond to Russian forces that are advancing or preparing to strike." However, this only applies to the Kharkiv region.

Our policy with respect to prohibiting the use of Army Tactical Missile System [ATACMS] (ballistic missiles fired from HIMARS launchers with a range of 300 kilometers - ed.) or long-range strikes inside of Russia has not changed, the BBC informant added.

CBS asked, however, whether the new policy includes attacks on Russian aircraft.

We’ve never told them [Ukraine] they can’t shoot down a Russian airplane over Russian soil that’s coming to attack them, emphasized the American official.

PAP, in turn, notes that "the decision made by Biden is a significant shift in the approach that has been in place since the beginning of the war. It came after weeks of intense lobbying by Ukrainians, bipartisan members of Congress, and international leaders, including NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg."

The Ukrainians argued that the ban did not allow them to strike at Russian troops gathering near the Ukrainian border in preparation for an offensive on Kharkiv. At the same time, they pointed out that civilian targets were being bombed by aircraft taking off from airbases within the range of ATACMS missiles.