State Department: Ukraine Allowed to Strike Russian Military Targets with ATACMS Missiles if Aggressor Attempts to Expand Frontline

Ukraine will receive permission from the United States to use US ATACMS missiles to strike targets in Russia at a greater distance if the aggressor country tries to expand the front. This was stated by Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs James O'Brien during a hearing in Congress the day before.

"If Russia tries to expand the current front, Ukraine will be allowed to fire longer-range ATACMS missiles at Russian military targets in Russia," the US official said, according to Voice of America.

However, according to O'Brien, Russia is now losing its ability to attack due to Ukraine's destruction of Russian military facilities near the border.

"We're seeing a dramatic change in Russia's ability to sustain its campaign against Ukraine because of the loss of facilities in the area where it is allowed to fire," O'Brien said during the hearing.

He added that the US priority was to provide weapons and concentrate them "in the areas of greatest need".

"At first, it was the area where Russia was conducting an offensive near Kharkiv. And now, as Jake Sullivan (National Security Advisor to the President of the United States - ed.) said last week, if Russia tries to expand that front, Ukraine will be allowed to reach targets at a greater distance," O'Brien said during the hearing.

Representatives of the Biden administration said that the main strategy for assisting Kyiv in 2025 is for Ukraine to win this war. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to focus on two points: supplying the battlefield and restoring the Ukrainian economy so that it does not depend on partner countries.

According to officials, the main source of funding for Kyiv next year should be the $50 billion that the Group of Seven (G7) countries have agreed to lend, subject to repayment with interest from seized Russian assets.