The US appears to have expanded its agreement with Ukraine, allowing counterstrikes over the border into Russia wherever Russian forces are engaging in cross-border attacks, not just in the Kharkiv region as previously determined.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told that the agreement allows Ukraine to fire into Russia wherever Russian forces are attempting to invade. Sullivan emphasized it’s about common sense, not geography.
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Pentagon spokesman Maj. Charlie Dietz confirmed the US agreed to let Ukraine fire US-provided weapons into Russia wherever Russian forces are attacking or preparing to attack. Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder stated there had been no change in policy, which was always intended to allow necessary cross-border counterstrikes. However, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin previously suggested the policy was limited to the Kharkiv region.
President Joe Biden had permitted limited strikes inside Russia with US weapons, primarily at the Kharkiv border after Russian offensives there. A senior US Defense Department official hinted at potential policy changes, noting past reluctance that later shifted to approval for actions like F-16s and ATACMS.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg supported Ukraine’s right to strike military targets in Russia, highlighting the difficulty of defense if Russian forces were safe on their side of the border. The US has also allowed Ukraine to use air defense systems to shoot down Russian planes preparing to fire into Ukrainian airspace. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby affirmed Ukraine’s right to shoot down threatening Russian aircraft, even outside Ukrainian airspace.
