Russian Ambassador Expects US Will Lift Restrictions on Ukraine’s Use of Weapons

Ukraine is pushing hard for the US to allow long-range strikes inside Russia

Russia’s ambassador in the US has said he expects the Biden administration to soon lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of US-provided weapons to support long-range strikes on Russian territory.

“The current administration behaves like a person who extends one hand and holds a dagger behind their back with another one,” Ambassador Anatoly Antonov said on Friday.

“They are, essentially, laying ground (for a decision) to simply remove all the existing restrictions at a certain point, without much thought,” he added.

In May, President Biden gave Ukraine the greenlight to use US-provided weapons in attacks on border regions in the Russian mainland. A few months later, on August 6, Ukraine launched its ground invasion of Russia’s Kursk Oblast.

Ukraine is using US-provided missile systems and bombs in its assault on Kursk, but the US says it won’t allow long-range strikes outside of the border areas. Ukrainian officials are now pushing hard to have all restrictions lifted.

US officials told POLITICO that the White House is still not ready to support long-range strikes in Russia. But there is growing support in Congress for the restrictions to be lifted, and Ukrainian officials say they have reasons to think there may be a change soon.

“There’s some indication now that Biden might want to do something big on Ukraine — maybe lifting some of the restrictions — before the election now that he’s not running,” a senior Ukrainian adviser told POLITICO. “There’s no guarantee, but we’re hearing that he’s thinking about it.”

The use of US weapons inside Russia marks a significant escalation of the proxy war as it is, and the step to support long-range strikes would take things to another level and risk a serious response from Moscow.

Antonov said Russian President Vladimir Putin will punish those responsible for attacking Russia. “I tell you sincerely that the president has made a decision,” he said. “I am firmly convinced that everyone will be severely punished for what has happened in Kursk region.”

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.