Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is pressing western allies at the United Nations General Assembly for permission to strike deep inside Russia with U.S.-guided weapons. This decision has high stakes, as Ukraine seeks to destroy Russian bases that have been launching devastating airstrikes. Russian President Vladimir Putin warns that Western-backed strikes in Russia could draw NATO countries into the war.
President Joe Biden and the Pentagon are facing complex calculations in this ongoing conflict. Ukraine has already used shorter-range precision weapons to target Russian military facilities, forcing them to move sensitive targets further from the front line. Now, Zelenskyy wants to use longer-range missiles to target Russia’s ability to launch attacks from bases outside of Ukraine.
The U.S. has altered its policy to allow its weapons to attack inside Russia close to the Ukraine border, but there is still a prohibition on striking targets at the maximum range of the weapons. Ukraine has also received western-supplied long-range precision weapons but requires technical guidance from the Pentagon for precise targeting.
The potential benefits of allowing Ukraine to conduct deeper missile strikes include forcing Russia to move its command posts and supply depots farther away from Ukraine, slowing down restocking of vital equipment, and diminishing the effectiveness of Russian military action. However, escalating the conflict could have unforeseen consequences, including potential use of tactical nuclear weapons by Russia.
Despite concerns about potential escalation, some experts argue that the burden should not be placed on those advocating for Ukraine’s ability to strike legitimate military targets in Russia. Ultimately, the decision to supply Ukraine with weapons to conduct deeper strikes remains complex and fraught with potential risks.
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