Republicans Press Biden on Military Aid as Ukraine Tensions Escalate

House Republicans are pressing President Biden to lift restrictions on advanced weaponry for Ukraine, but the outcome remains uncertain.

At a Glance

Top House Republicans urged President Biden to reverse a policy preventing Ukraine from using American-made weapons to strike deep inside Russia.
The letter calls for the use of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to target deep inside Russia.
The Biden administration has resisted changing the policy to avoid escalating tensions with nuclear-armed Russia.
Critics argue there are no red lines left for Kyiv to cross, given Russia’s extensive use of force.

Republican Appeal to the President

Top House Republicans have submitted a letter urging President Biden to lift restrictions on American-made weapons, allowing Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia. This appeal comes as Ukraine continues its defense against Russian forces. Among the advocates are GOP Representatives Mike Rogers, Michael McCaul, Mike Turner, Ken Calvert, Thomas Kean, and Richard Hudson.

They argue that the current limitations hinder Ukraine’s ability to defeat Russian forces and provide a sanctuary for the Kremlin’s military operations. Specifically, the GOP letter calls for the deployment of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to target strategic locations within Russia.

As Ukraine continues to try to defend itself against Russian aggression, @HouseForeignGOP Chairman @RepMcCaul, @HASCRepublicans Chairman @RepMikeRogersAL, HAC-D Chairman @KenCalvert, @RepRichHudson, @CongressmanKean, and I recently sent a letter to President Biden urging the… pic.twitter.com/AW6w4hGgXT

— US Rep. Mike Turner (@RepMikeTurner) September 10, 2024

Biden Administration’s Stance

The Biden administration has thus far resisted changing the policy. Officials are concerned that allowing Ukraine to use American weapons inside Russia could escalate tensions with a nuclear-armed adversary. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the need to consider multiple factors before providing weapons to Ukraine. Blinken is currently in Ukraine, discussing these restrictions with Ukrainian authorities.

“As long as it is conducting its brutal, full-scale war of aggression, Russia must not be given a sanctuary from which it can execute its war crimes against Ukraine with impunity,” source.

Critics of the existing policy argue that there are no remaining red lines for Kyiv to cross, given the extent of Russian aggression. They believe removing the restrictions would enable Ukraine to target Russian airbases and prevent the use of glide bombs against Ukrainian forces.

Republicans press Joe Biden on Ukraine weapons restrictions https://t.co/rjkiyVlQUb

— The Hill (@thehill) September 11, 2024

Broader Support for Easing Restrictions

There is bipartisan support for easing these restrictions. Democrats like Senator Ben Cardin and Representative Bill Keating have also voiced their support for allowing Ukraine to use U.S.-provided weapons more freely. Past pressure has led to policy shifts, such as permitting strikes over the border after Russia invaded Kharkiv. This approach reportedly helped blunt Russia’s offensive in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region.

“It is far past time the administration reverses course and lifts the remaining restrictions on Ukraine’s use of U.S.-provided weapons against legitimate military targets in Russia.”

The Republicans also pointed out that Ukraine’s current use of American weapons and its military incursion into Russia’s Kursk region did not provoke a severe Russian response. They contend that this shows concerns about escalation are unfounded, suggesting the real motivation behind the restrictions might be to avoid damaging future diplomatic relations with Russia.