Elena Buturlim16:31, 02.06.24

This expectation is symbolized by the White House, which has repeatedly lagged behind developments on the battlefield at the cost of Ukrainian lives.

The White House said this week it had made a “lightning quick” decision to grant Kyiv permission to use American weapons against limited targets inside Russia, just 17 days after Ukraine began begging for the ability. But for Ukrainians, these 17 days of waiting are symbolic of the White House, which has repeatedly lagged behind developments on the battlefield at the cost of Ukrainian lives, The Washington Post writes .

It is noted that the new policy is aimed at changing the strategic balance in the vital border region, where Ukraine’s second largest city is located, and could pave the way for a wider defeat of Kyiv’s forces.

At the same time, US President Joe Biden fiercely defended the ban on Ukraine using American military equipment to strike Russian territory. But for soldiers on the front lines, the period between May 13, when Ukraine formally requested the change, and May 30, when U.S. officials gave the green light, was a bitter period of some of the most brutal attacks in the two-year war. Thousands of people fled their homes as the Kremlin seized the opportunity to launch attacks on Ukrainian territory from the Russian side of the border, the authors write.

The Ukrainians can now use U.S.-provided missiles and artillery to hit some Russian positions behind the front line, potentially helping Kharkov, where the front has largely stabilized. However, there are doubts in Kyiv, Washington and other European capitals about whether these changes will be enough to change conditions on the battlefield or push Russian troops back. Biden still refuses to allow Ukraine to use American weapons to strike airfields and other targets deep inside Russian territory, the article says.

“We simply pay in blood. You can sit somewhere in an office in Washington and drink tea for 10 minutes, but in 10 minutes 10 airstrikes can be carried out here and dozens of people can be killed,” said Vsevolod Kozhemyako, founder of the Ukrainian Charter brigade.

Anticipated offensive

Back in March, officials noticed that Russian troops were massing on the border with Kharkov. The intensive assault began on March 22. Kyiv has decided not to push for changes to the rules of engagement, given that US aid to Kyiv is stuck in Congress. Ukrainians’ expectations for a change in policy changed in April as attacks intensified and the US House of Representatives approved aid for Ukraine. Almost immediately, Washington began sending weapons, but it came too late. On May 10, Russia launched an offensive and its troops quickly crossed the northern border of Ukraine near Kharkov.

Russia continuously fired at Ukrainians from its territory with aircraft and artillery. The Ukrainian military notes that the losses they suffered could have been avoided if Ukraine had been able to strike Russia with the help of American equipment.

(C)UNIAN 2024