The offensive of Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region increases the pressure on the United States, reports AP
Currently, Ukraine is trying to change the United States’ cautious approach to war, and this is facilitated by the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region. As reported Associated Press, the United States limits the use of long-range missiles that it supplies to Ukraine, prohibiting their use for strikes on military facilities on the territory of Russia. The offensive of Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region, as well as a large-scale missile and drone attack on Moscow on August 26, increased the pressure on the administration of American President Joe Biden.
The Biden administration notes that a thorough approach to resolving the question of what modern weapons and when to supply Ukraine is necessary in order to avoid possible corresponding actions on the part of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Some analysts believe that Putin may view Ukrainian strikes by American long-range ballistic missiles as aggression on the part of the United States.
Instead, other American and European supporters of Ukraine believe that the White House should realize that Putin’s threats to attack the West, including the use of nuclear weapons, are bluffs. They worry that US support, which has enabled Ukraine to resist a Russian invasion in 2022, is being delayed, which could set Ukraine up for failure.
“This war will end as Western politicians decide”, — noted retired American general Philip Breedlove, who headed NATO in Europe from 2013 to 2016.
Philip Breedlove is one of those who insist on lifting restrictions on Ukraine’s use of weapons provided by the West.
“If we continue to do what we are doing now, Ukraine will eventually lose. Because we deliberately do not provide Ukraine with the necessary resources for victory.” added the retired general.
George Barros, an analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, indicated that more than 200 Russian military targets are within range of the Atacms missile system in areas that appear to be poorly guarded along the border. These targets include major military bases, communications stations, logistics centers, repair shops, fuel depots, ammunition depots, and permanent headquarters.
Barros noted that a few selective strikes could force Putin to redeploy forces to protect these facilities.
“Such pressure significantly reduces the attacker’s ability to effectively logistically support his forces at the front”, the analyst concluded.
The United States of America will continue to discuss with Ukraine the issue of possible lifting of restrictions on long-range strikes against Russia, but these discussions will take place in a non-public format. This was stated by the coordinator of strategic communications of the National Security Council of the White House, John Kirby, during a briefing.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) also presented a list of targets with coordinates and an interactive map to demonstrate how US restrictions on the use of Atacms missiles limit Ukraine’s ability to strike critical military infrastructure in Russia.
