U.S. not allowing strikes deeper into Russia to prevent war from spilling into other countries - Pentagon spox
The United States is not allowing Ukraine to hit Russian military airfields and targets deeper inside Russia with long-range ATACMS missiles so that the war does not go beyond the borders of Ukraine, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said.
As reported by Ukrinform, the spokesman spoke in an interview with the Voice of America.
He emphasized that the United States had recently authorized the use of American munitions to hit targets inside Russia along the border with Ukraine in response to Russian attacks and threats.
This includes cases where the Russians are massing up troops, firing artillery or launching airstrikes from across the border, Ryder said, adding that the policy on longer-range strikes remains unchanged.
According to the official, Washington seeks to avoid unintended consequences, an escalation that can turn the conflict into a wider one that will go beyond Ukraine’s borders.
At the same time, Ryder noted that the United States will continue to work with Ukraine so that it has everything necessary to protect its sovereign territory and its people.
He refused to answer questions about the timing of the deployment of the five Patriot air defense systems promised by President Joe Biden.
These systems will be deployed in Ukraine to create an integrated air defense network, he said.
Speaking about the F-16 aircraft, which are to arrive in Ukraine this summer, Ryder noted that this high-tech capability requires special training not only to operate but also to maintain and support.
The Ramstein Coalition for the Strengthening of the Ukrainian Air Force, involving Denmark, the Netherlands, and the USA works hard to ensure the training of not only Ukrainian pilots, but also Ukrainian technicians, as well as the issue of maintaining these aircraft and how best to operate them in the conditions of threats that Ukrainian pilots will face, the spokesman said.
Ultimately, Ukraine will decide how to use these aircraft on Ukrainian sovereign territory, he added.
Earlier, in a comment to Ukrinform, John Kirby, the Strategic Communications Coordinator at the White House National Security Council, said President Biden does not allow American weapons to strike deep into Russia because he is concerned about possible escalation.