Lack of clear criteria: how the US determines the possibility of strikes by the AFU against Russia

Lack of clear criteria: how the US determines the possibility of strikes by the AFU against Russia

The United States' policy on Defense Forces strikes against military targets in Russia remains uncertain, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).


According to the information provided in the report, the Institute recalled the statements made by John Kirby, the Biden administration's security communications adviser, at a briefing on June 5. He noted that the United States has never restricted Ukraine's ability to shoot down Russian aircraft, even if they are not in Ukrainian airspace.


However, the report points to a lack of clarity in official US policy on which Russian aircraft are considered a “direct threat” to Ukraine and the uncertainty of the Biden administration's attitude on this issue.


It is noted that the current lack of clarity in the US restrictions on Ukraine's use of US-provided weapons to strike Russian military targets in Russia may make it impossible to force the Russians to stop striking Ukrainian territory from their own airspace.





The United States' policy on Defense Forces strikes against military targets in Russia remains uncertain, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).


According to the information provided in the report, the Institute recalled the statements made by John Kirby, the Biden administration's security communications adviser, at a briefing on June 5. He noted that the United States has never restricted Ukraine's ability to shoot down Russian aircraft, even if they are not in Ukrainian airspace.


However, the report points to a lack of clarity in official US policy on which Russian aircraft are considered a “direct threat” to Ukraine and the uncertainty of the Biden administration's attitude on this issue.


It is noted that the current lack of clarity in the US restrictions on Ukraine's use of US-provided weapons to strike Russian military targets in Russia may make it impossible to force the Russians to stop striking Ukrainian territory from their own airspace.