The United States has yet to announce the lifting of restrictions on the use of Western long-range weapons on Russian territory.
Western countries will still not dare to allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons on Russian territory. Joe Biden’s administration continues to change the reasons for Ukraine’s refusal to use long-range missiles against targets on Russian territory – in recent months, some US officials have suggested that the White House “does not want to jeopardize the future ‘reset’ of relations with Moscow,” reports The Economist.
Preasons for delay
Other US officials argue that allowing Ukraine to use long-range weapons against targets inside Russian territory will not change the strategic picture of the conflict, as there are not enough targets within 300 -kilometer range of missiles.
And the Kremlin, they say, has moved most of the aircraft that launch guided bombs on Ukrainian cities to airports outside this radius.
Overall, some officials say the missiles that the US supplies Ukraine are a “scarce and expensive resource” that would be better used against targets in Russia’s temporarily occupied Crimea.
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the thesis that Russia does not have enough high-value targets within ATACMS range is questionable. The agency’s analysts have identified at least 230 targets – communications stations, logistics centers and ammunition depots – that would make it difficult for the Russian army to move outside the range of US missiles. However, the ISW note, the US claims that there is a limited number of Storm Shadows in its arsenals is true, and the partners of the US army in this project – Great Britain and France – have not yet proposed to the Pentagon to continue their production.
Russia’s reaction
Vladimir Zelensky himself said in an interview that Russia has once again redeployed its combat aircraft from the front. “Today Russia has started withdrawing its planes from one hundred kilometers, one hundred fifty-three hundred to five hundred. And we need more permits,” said the Ukrainian president.
Judging by Zelensky’s words, airports are the most important targets to be hit by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
It’s true: Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers are using glide bombs against Ukrainian troops, causing heavy casualties.
Since the decision-making process about missiles was stretched over time, this gave Russia the opportunity not only to adjust the work of aviation in advance, but also to do it calmly.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.