Budanov: Western weapons already impacting Russia
Russian "red lines" over Ukraine's use of Western-supplied weapons to strike targets within Russian territory are simply "theater," Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukrainian military intelligence, said in an interview on Ukrainian television on June 13.
"The Russians are already experiencing it," he said.
"As the saying goes: it's too late to say sorry."
Read also: Western weapons strikes on Russia to impact frontline situation – Ukrainian military commander
The permission to strike Russian territory with Western weapons will significantly alleviate the frontline situation.
Budanov also dismissed Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's "red lines" as mere public theatrics.
"Do these red lines exist at all?" he asked rhetorically.
"No. If they do, where are they?”
“We’ve supposedly crossed them multiple times over the years. I believe it’s all for show."
Read also: Ukraine works on lifting ban on use of Western weapons on Russian territories – Kuleba
Use of Western weapons on Russian soil
The U.S. does not encourage Ukraine to use American weapons to strike Russian territory, White House spokesperson John Kirby said on May 17.
Foreign weapons are intended to reclaim Ukraine's sovereign territory and should be used specifically within Ukraine, the Pentagon reiterated.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked the U.S. for permission to use American missiles and other weapons against military targets in Russia, he said in an interview with The New York Times on May 21.
Read also: U.S. may quietly greenlight Kyiv's strike inside Russia, says Ukrainian MP
Ukraine already used Western weapons for strikes on Russian territory multiple times, AFP reported on May 29, citing anonymous sources.
President Joe Biden allowed Ukraine to carry out limited strikes on Russian territory with American-made weapons under pressure from his advisors and key allies, The New York Times reported on May 31, referencing unnamed White House officials.
The White House allowed Ukraine to strike Russian territory using American weapons, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed on the same day.
Germany authorized Ukraine to use German-made weapons for strikes on Russian territory, but only in areas close to the border, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius also confirmed on May 31.
Ukrainian forces attacked the Russian city of Belgorod using HIMARS, a U.S.-supplied multiple rocket launcher, just hours after the White House's approval, Forbes reported on June 2.
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