US allows Ukraine to shoot down enemy aircraft on Russian soil without restrictions – Kirby
Photo: Reuters
The United States of America has never placed any restrictions on Ukraine shooting down hostile aircraft on Russian territory.
At a briefing, John Kirby, the coordinator of strategic communications for the National Security Council of the White House, stated this.
As the representative of the Security Council of the Biden Administration emphasized, there have never been any restrictions for Ukrainians to shoot down enemy planes, even if these planes are not in Ukrainian airspace.
The military can shoot down Russian planes that pose an imminent threat. Kirby emphasized that the Ukrainians have been doing this since the beginning of the war.
Journalists also asked if Kirby could confirm the report that Ukraine used American weapons on Russian territory for the first time. In response, he stated that he couldn't provide an answer.
"As I have already said, we are simply not able to know exactly what the Ukrainians are shooting at every day. This is certainly at the tactical level. Therefore, I cannot confirm this. I can only say that they understand the instructions that have been given to them," the coordinator explained.
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It should be noted that after the start of a new offensive by Russian troops in the Kharkiv region, some European countries started a campaign to ease restrictions on the use of weapons transferred to Ukraine.
In turn, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also emphasized that Ukraine's use of Western weapons against Russian targets would not make NATO part of the conflict. The head of the Alliance has redoubled efforts to urge allies to lift restrictions on hitting targets in Russia.
The US Helsinki Commission also stated that the United States of America should allow Ukraine to strike with American weapons against the forces of the Russian Armed Forces in the border areas of Russia. However, the Pentagon said that American weapons are intended for use on the territory of Ukraine.
On May 28, the Prime Minister of Belgium explained during a press conference that the 30 F-16 fighter jets that Belgium has pledged to hand over to Ukraine can only be used on Ukrainian territory. The same applies to other weapons provided for in the security agreement.
Which countries supported Kyiv regarding the use of Western weapons on the territory of Russia:
- Sweden allowed Ukraine to use its weapons to attack the Russian Federation.
- Poland supported Ukraine's right to use Western weapons to attack Russia.
- The Czech Republic supported using partners' weapons for defense in the aggressor's territory.
- The Netherlands supported strikes on the territory of the Russian Federation with Western weapons.
- Ukraine can attack the territory of the Russian Federation with the help of weapons provided by Finland.
- Moreover, permission to use the transferred weapons for attacks on the territory of the Russian Federation was supported by the Baltic states.
- The Joe Biden administration has eased its policy of forbidding Ukraine from using American weaponry against Russian targets. However, some restrictions still remain in effect.
- Germany has allowed Ukraine's military to conduct attacks on Russian territory but within a restricted area of effect.
- The Netherlands allows Ukraine to use F-16 fighter jets on the territory of the Russian Federation.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, said that the partners have taken a crucial and long-awaited step by allowing the use of their weapons on Russian territory. Still, Ukraine will continue to work on expanding the area of its use.
