The chairman of the US House Intelligence Committee demands that Ukraine be allowed to attack “valid military targets” in Russia

Ukraine must be allowed to attack “valid military targets” in Russia, said Mike Turner, chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence and Republican Congressman from Ohio, on July 1 in Kyiv.

Visiting Kyiv as part of a bipartisan delegation of U.S. congressmen, Turner said his position on Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory was “more comprehensive than that of the (Biden) administration.”

The United States gave Ukraine permission on June 1 to attack targets in Russia near the border with Kharkiv Oblast using American weapons, including HIMARS missiles, after Russia launched a renewed offensive in the region on May 10.

Ukraine remains prohibited from using ATACMS and other long-range weapons from the United States to launch attacks deep into Russia.

“I believe that Ukraine should be allowed to use the weapons it receives for valid military purposes,” Turner said.

“My position is the same as that of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg,” Turner added, referring to Stoltenberg’s comments in June that limiting Ukraine’s ability to attack targets in Russia “would be like asking them to defend themselves with one hand behind their back.”

Turner also stressed that Russia’s arms production is estimated to be far higher than that of the West.

Despite Western efforts to undermine Russia’s industrial and military production, the country is only increasing its investment in weapons production and allocating a record share of its 2024 Federal budget for military purposes.

“This is a mathematical problem and I think that this problem can also be responded to with military force.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on June 7 that his country had increased ammunition production by more than 20 times and weeks later called on Russia to resume production of short- and medium-range nuclear-capable missiles.

With aid payments at stake, Kyiv is closely following the US presidential debate

US President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump met on June 27 in the first presidential debate ahead of the presidential election. The debate marked a rocky start for Biden, whose administration has positioned itself as a key ally of Ukraine in its defense against