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Lockheed Martin HIMARS rocket systems fire at the Yakima Training Center in Washington state on May 27, 2011.
One high-ranking Vatican official warned that the new policy "could lead to an escalation that no one will be able to control."
U.S. President Joe Biden has partially lifted his administration's ban on Ukrainian use of U.S.-supplied weapons to strike targets inside Russia, according to Thursday reporting—a policy critics have called a provocative escalation of the 27-month war.
Citing "people familiar with the move," Politico reported that Biden has quietly given Kyiv the green light to carry out limited cross-border strikes near Kharkiv as Russian forces menace Ukraine's second-largest city.
"The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S. weapons for counter-fire purposes in Kharkiv so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them," one American official told the outlet. The official said that Biden's prohibition on long-range attacks inside Russia "has not changed." They gave a similar statement to The Hill.
"The No. 1 priority for U.S.-Ukraine policy should be avoiding escalation to direct U.S. conflict with a nuclear-armed Russia."
Russian President Vladimir Putin—who ordered the invasion of his neighbor in February 2022—warned Tuesday that any attacks by Ukrainian forces on Russia using Western-supplied weapons "can lead to serious consequences."
Biden's reversal came amid divided opinion in his administration over whether to allow Ukraine to use U.S. arms to attack Russia. Secretary of State Antony Blinken favored the more aggressive policy, which is supported by major NATO allies including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
Anti-war voices sounded the alarm over Biden's shift, with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin
saying, "I think this possibility should concern everyone who cares about the fate of our world."
"It could lead to an escalation that no one will be able to control," he added.
Defense Priorities, a Washington, D.C.-based foreign policy think tank, said on social media that "the No. 1 priority for U.S.-Ukraine policy should be avoiding escalation to direct U.S. conflict with a nuclear-armed Russia."
"When the U.S. should be exercising its diplomatic power, it is instead entrenching itself deeper into a war Kyiv is unlikely to win," the Koch brothers-funded organization added.
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
U.S. President Joe Biden has partially lifted his administration's ban on Ukrainian use of U.S.-supplied weapons to strike targets inside Russia, according to Thursday reporting—a policy critics have called a provocative escalation of the 27-month war.
Citing "people familiar with the move," Politico reported that Biden has quietly given Kyiv the green light to carry out limited cross-border strikes near Kharkiv as Russian forces menace Ukraine's second-largest city.
"The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S. weapons for counter-fire purposes in Kharkiv so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them," one American official told the outlet. The official said that Biden's prohibition on long-range attacks inside Russia "has not changed." They gave a similar statement to The Hill.
"The No. 1 priority for U.S.-Ukraine policy should be avoiding escalation to direct U.S. conflict with a nuclear-armed Russia."
Russian President Vladimir Putin—who ordered the invasion of his neighbor in February 2022—warned Tuesday that any attacks by Ukrainian forces on Russia using Western-supplied weapons "can lead to serious consequences."
Biden's reversal came amid divided opinion in his administration over whether to allow Ukraine to use U.S. arms to attack Russia. Secretary of State Antony Blinken favored the more aggressive policy, which is supported by major NATO allies including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
Anti-war voices sounded the alarm over Biden's shift, with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin
saying, "I think this possibility should concern everyone who cares about the fate of our world."
"It could lead to an escalation that no one will be able to control," he added.
Defense Priorities, a Washington, D.C.-based foreign policy think tank, said on social media that "the No. 1 priority for U.S.-Ukraine policy should be avoiding escalation to direct U.S. conflict with a nuclear-armed Russia."
"When the U.S. should be exercising its diplomatic power, it is instead entrenching itself deeper into a war Kyiv is unlikely to win," the Koch brothers-funded organization added.
U.S. President Joe Biden has partially lifted his administration's ban on Ukrainian use of U.S.-supplied weapons to strike targets inside Russia, according to Thursday reporting—a policy critics have called a provocative escalation of the 27-month war.
Citing "people familiar with the move," Politico reported that Biden has quietly given Kyiv the green light to carry out limited cross-border strikes near Kharkiv as Russian forces menace Ukraine's second-largest city.
"The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S. weapons for counter-fire purposes in Kharkiv so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them," one American official told the outlet. The official said that Biden's prohibition on long-range attacks inside Russia "has not changed." They gave a similar statement to The Hill.
"The No. 1 priority for U.S.-Ukraine policy should be avoiding escalation to direct U.S. conflict with a nuclear-armed Russia."
Russian President Vladimir Putin—who ordered the invasion of his neighbor in February 2022—warned Tuesday that any attacks by Ukrainian forces on Russia using Western-supplied weapons "can lead to serious consequences."
Biden's reversal came amid divided opinion in his administration over whether to allow Ukraine to use U.S. arms to attack Russia. Secretary of State Antony Blinken favored the more aggressive policy, which is supported by major NATO allies including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
Anti-war voices sounded the alarm over Biden's shift, with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin
saying, "I think this possibility should concern everyone who cares about the fate of our world."
"It could lead to an escalation that no one will be able to control," he added.
Defense Priorities, a Washington, D.C.-based foreign policy think tank, said on social media that "the No. 1 priority for U.S.-Ukraine policy should be avoiding escalation to direct U.S. conflict with a nuclear-armed Russia."
"When the U.S. should be exercising its diplomatic power, it is instead entrenching itself deeper into a war Kyiv is unlikely to win," the Koch brothers-funded organization added.