The Biden administration took the step to avoid escalating tensions with Moscow
By Rozina Sabur, WASHINGTON EDITOR 5 December 2022
The US secretly altered the Himars rocket launchers it gave Ukraine so they cannot be used to strike Russian territory, according to officials in Washington.
The Biden administration took the step to avoid the US escalating tensions with Moscow and being drawn into a wider conflict.
Washington has supplied Kyiv with 20 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launchers (Himars) since June.
It has also sent a large supply of satellite-guided rockets with a range of almost 50 miles, which have been used to strike high-value Russian targets on Ukrainian territory.
But US officials told the Wall Street Journal the Pentagon disabled the Himar launchers’ ability to fire long-range missiles.
Zelensky agreed not to strike Russia with Himars
The revelation underscores the steps Joe Biden’s administration has taken to reduce the risk of the US being drawn directly into the war.
The US president has previously said: “We will not fight a war against Russia in Ukraine. Direct conflict between Nato and Russia is World War III, something we must strive to prevent.”
The Pentagon has refused to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles capable of hitting Russian territory.
The Kremlin has described long-range missiles as a “red line” which would make Washington “a direct party to the conflict”.
The Biden administration also secured a commitment from Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, that the Himars would not be used to strike within Russia’s borders.
The secret modifications would suggest some lingering fears among US officials despite that promise.
It came as two Russian air bases were hit with explosions on Monday, and Ukrainian military officials hinted at their ability to strike deeper within Russian territory,
There is no evidence to suggest that weaponry provided by the US was involved in the strikes.
The Biden administration has also refused to provide Gray Eagle MQ-1C drones amid Pentagon concerns that they could hit targets in Russia.
Mr Biden’s cautious approach has been criticised in some quarters, with some European allies suggesting the prohibitions have given Moscow licence to act with virtual impunity.
The adaptations to the Himars involve modifications to both their hardware and software, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Pentagon’s spokesman, Gen. Patrick Ryder, declined to comment on the modifications.
“Due to operational security considerations, we do not comment publicly on the configuration of systems provided to allies and partners,” he said.
“The United States remains committed to providing Ukraine the capabilities it needs to counter Russian aggression.”
“The US president has previously said: “We will not fight a war against Russia in Ukraine. Direct conflict between Nato and Russia is World War III, something we must strive to prevent.”
Yes it was fatuous then and now it looks even worse. How is it WW3 exactly? I does not make sense. Direct conflict between Nato and Russia is not even WW3.
Can he explain why he will fight with Russia in Nato countries, plus Japan and SK, but not Ukraine? It is illogical, weak and stupid.
Add to that and the trickle down approach to weapons and it costs lives.
Biden has a greater responsibility to Ukraine than to Nato countries because the US (and UK of course) signed the Budapest memorandum, which was designed to provide a guarantee against exactly the sort of holocaust that putler is running now.
The Biden position just doesn’t hold water.
It’s incredibly annoying that Ukraine has to rely on this old guy. But then his top officials seem no better.
He did the same to us in 2014, with Obama when the Putin drove into Crimea with no repercussions
Pootin and the rashists were already in Crimea. They had already bolstered forces before Yanukovych fled. Also they flew in even more before their “cakewalk” well above the limits that they were allowed to maintain by contract.
Biden is SCUM…he’s a two faced lying Putin Puppet Bastard!!!!
Wrong. Putin and his minions are the scum. You can criticize Biden’s steps to avoid direct confrontation with a nuclear power all you want, but I do say it sounds like the words of a Russian troll trying to create a rift among allies.
Were Biden a Russian puppet he’d be sending javelins, m777s and Himars there.
Look rather to the Ukrainians in Donbas and Crimea who invited Russia there with your anger. It is they who made a deal with the devil, not Biden.
DECEMBER 5, 2022SCRADGE1
US secretly altered Himars rockets it gave Ukraine so they couldn’t be fired into Russia
The Biden administration took the step to avoid escalating tensions with Moscow
By Rozina Sabur, WASHINGTON EDITOR 5 December 2022
You must be with the Devil…putting us in a Fishbowl so the Russian’s can shoot at us
Ukrainians in Donbas and Crimea invited Russia there? You’ll have to explain that one. Many of us on this site have been blogging for Ukraine even before that so we are familiar with what happened and there were no invitations, that I can promise you.
Do you deny that many in the Ukrainian military had strong ties to Russia and did nothing? How do you explain the lack of resistance when Crimea was taken?
Do you believe Sergei Yeliseyev, first deputy commander of the Ukrainian navy, who went on to become deputy chief of Russia’s Baltic Fleet didn’t sell out?
Leaving the door open is surely an invitation.
Many sold out to the invaders but that is far from “inviting” or “leaving the door open.” Victim-blaming is a Kremlin trait.
??? ?invited?? They are terrorists, that’s why. Are you Ukrainian? If you are from Ukraine, are you not aware of Revolution of Dignity
Blogging since 2014? When Russia invaded us under Biden the 1st time?
Biden’s get 40 million from Russia…..wake the hell up over there..
Were you born in Ukraine…or are you just a grandstander… I was born in Ukraine when we were still the Soviet Union
You American’s are lost …..
All short range weapons…..and altered too. so we cannot fire into Russia. You better start reading and catching up on the American Government you have.
We did not invite Russia into the Crimea…where the heck did you get that story from??
Remember, 40 million to Biden’s……from Russia.
Sir Bo your 40 million to Biden from ruZZia story still does not pan out when you look at the facts of the incident in question.
Maybe you need to read more news…Hunter’s Emails.. They’re online
https://nypost.com/2022/10/17/hunter-bidens-real-estate-firm-received-over-100m-from-russian-oligarch/
Do you mean the deal with Rosemont Realty in 2012 to invest $40 million in the purchase of seven office buildings in Texas, Colorado, Alabama, New Mexico and Oklahoma? First, what evidence is there that any meaningful amount went to Hunter, and second, I doubt his business dealings is going to influence his dad.
What you don’t understand is that Trump beat Hillary when the FBI disclosed an investigation (of nothing – emails or something) just before the election. Similarly, payments made to Hunter Biden from Russia arose just before the 2020 presidential election. There is nothing in either of those allegations though … nothing that I can see anyway.
https://nypost.com/2022/10/17/hunter-bidens-real-estate-firm-received-over-100m-from-russian-oligarch/
Biden did not get 40 million from Russia.
But he is a pussy that is being led too much by fear, which isn’t a good thing.
I do think Biden does underestimate the Ukrainians though. I think if the U.S. military can modify HIMARS so they cannot fire into Russia, I think the Ukrainian military can modify them so they can fire into Russia.
Really the Biden’s got 100 million from Russia….
https://nypost.com/2022/10/17/hunter-bidens-real-estate-firm-received-over-100m-from-russian-oligarch/
Your post is a troll …. in fact, Rosemont Realty received it for property investments across the US that date back a decade.
The only issue was a missing $3.5M made to a consultancy that Hunter was once part of, then closed, and then reopened with Hunter Biden’s involvement when the payment was made.
Your posts are not credible.
A Troll..?? Are you even Ukrainian?? I was born in Lviv, my wife in Donetsk.
I was born in the 60’s, so I was had the opportunity of growing up Soviet Ukrainian and Ukrainian.
What is your claim to fame except calling those who have an opinion, unlike yours, a troll.
Did you even read you Hunter Biden emails, that are online??
First, none of the data show President Biden benefited from his son’s business dealings.
Second, there are many questions about the drive being modified by people other than Hunter that aren’t fully answered yet.
In any case, to claim President Biden is somehow a Russian tool is absurd.
So you are Ukrainian. I see many Ukrainians happily supporting the Russian cause. I also see a Russian disinformation campaign targeting US politicians who are not favorable to Russian interests.
I am happy to go where the evidence leads even if it implicates President Biden. I do not see evidence for that and submit the claims on this site of Biden being a Russian tool are part of the Russian disinformation campaign.
Have a nice day.
You do, do you…. Where do you see them???
Tell us all on here, why did Biden just give us local weapons, short range? Why did he tamper with the HIMARS to limit range, without telling Ukraine???
The fact is, Biden is a schill and getting paid by Russia, Hunter emails, is something you purposely ignoring for some reason. Are you sure, you’re not the Russian supporter?
Giving someone short range weapons, appears like we’re getting support. But, the fact is, is like shooting fish in a fish bowl..
That the US doesn’t want to provide weapons to attack Russia has nothing to do with Hunter Biden’s real estate dealings or business interests.
Oh did you see Andrii Derkach, a Russian backed Ukrainian politician, was recently arrested for evading sanctions which were placed for his involvement in a Russian disinformation campaign seeking to undermine U.S. institutions by tying to discredit Hunter Biden and his dad. Had it succeeded, we’d likely have seen a Russia friendly Trump in the White House again.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/doj-russian-backed-ukrainian-oligarch-bought-two-california-condos-used-convoluted-scheme-to-get-around-u-s-sanctions
Sure it does….Nordstream opened did it not, after Biden took office.
“The United States remains committed to providing Ukraine the capabilities it needs to counter Russian aggression.”
I hope the US knows by now that Ukrainians are not interested in “countering” Putin’s criminal invasion but winning the fucking war. If Ukraine struck military targets inside Russia who would pay the price? Perhaps someone sitting in Dallas? Nah, probably someone sitting in Dnipro…
This is what happens when politicians are allowed to pretend they are generals.
Liked
Ukraine has already started striking targets in Russia.