Pentagon rep: USA refraining from allowing Kyiv strikes on Russian territory, fearing conflict escalation
The United States continues to refrain from authorizing ATACMS missile strikes on Russian territory as it fears the war will spread beyond Ukraine, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder has said.
Ryder told Voice of America that their policy regarding long-range strikes has not changed and he believed that the important thing to understand is that they do not want to see unintended consequences, escalation that could turn this conflict into a broader conflict that goes beyond Ukraine. According to him, that's what all needs to take this into account and take it very seriously.
He also said Washington has never in any way underestimated the threat that Russia poses to Ukraine. Therefore, the United States will continue to work with Ukraine to ensure that it has everything it needs to protect its sovereign territory and its people.
Regarding the recent U.S. authorization to carry out strikes along Kharkiv border, a Pentagon spokesman said that in this case, this is about common sense: if Ukraine is fired upon across the border, or if the Russians are forming troops to carry out attacks on Kharkiv. He said it makes sense give the Ukrainians the opportunity to shoot back.
Ryder said they do not seek conflict with Russia, but they fully support Ukraine's right to defend itself, and the United States will continue to work with Ukraine to ensure that it can do so.
Speaking about the new command center in Wiesbaden, which was recently announced by NATO, Ryder said the center will help coordinate training and security assistance to Ukraine. It will complement and support the Ramstein contact group on Ukrainian defense issues. Therefore, these two mechanisms will be able to work together in support of Ukraine, he also said.
Ryder said as for the center in Wiesbaden is that in many ways it will be focused on interoperability. While Ukraine is developing and building up its Armed Forces, it will be focused on interoperability. So in the future, when Ukraine has the capability, and NATO allies will achieve consensus, it was in a much better position to join NATO.
