The Democratic delegation of Nevada lawmakers is urging President Biden to lift operational restrictions on Ukraine’s use of U.S.-provided long-range weapons, arguing that these limitations hinder Ukraine’s ability to effectively counter Russian aggression.
In a letter to Biden, Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, along with Representatives Dina Titus, Steven Horsford, and Susie Lee, emphasized that granting Ukraine greater access to these weapons could significantly enhance its military capabilities and disrupt Russian operations.
The lawmakers cited recent Russian attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine, including deadly missile strikes that resulted in casualties and damage to infrastructure.
They argued that Russia has not imposed similar restrictions on its military actions, highlighting the urgent need for Ukraine to operate without such limitations.
The letter comes in the wake of Biden’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the announcement of $8 billion in new military assistance for Ukraine.
However, when asked about the decision on lifting restrictions for long-range weapons, Biden responded that no decision had been made.
Biden administration officials stated that they are continuously assessing their support for Ukraine and the usage of U.S.-provided weapons to prevent escalation with Russia.
The United Kingdom has also refrained from allowing Ukraine to utilize its long-range Storm Shadow missiles for strikes deep into Russia.
Calls for more flexibility in Ukraine’s military operations are growing on Capitol Hill, with additional support from both Democrats and Republicans for easing restrictions on weapons use.