US Maintains Restrictions on Ukrainian Strikes Despite F-16 Arrival, US State Department Says

The US policy regarding Ukrainian strikes deep into Russian territory using American weapons remains unchanged, despite the arrival of F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated during a press briefing on August 5.

Ukraine is still prohibited from using ATACMS and other long-range US-supplied weapons for attacks deeper within Russia.

The United States will determine the use of American-made weapons provided to Ukraine, including F-16 fighters, based on battlefield conditions and the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, according to Miller.

"My answer has not changed today [August 5], which is we constantly look at the needs of the Ukrainian military, we assess the security situation, and we try to be responsive to their needs. This process has been going on from the very beginning to the present day," the spokesperson added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy officially confirmed the arrival of F-16 fighters in Ukraine on August 4, 2024. These advanced aircraft have already begun performing combat missions, marking a crucial step in enhancing Ukrainian armed forces and potentially altering the course of events on the front.

On June 1, the US authorized Ukraine to use certain American-supplied weapons, including HIMARS rockets, to target locations in Russia near the Kharkiv region border. This decision followed Russia's renewed offensive in the region, which began on May 10.