The US is ready to support Ukraine in the de-occupation of Crimea – NYT

The Biden Administration is considering providing Ukraine with the necessary weapons to target Russian military bases in occupied Crimea.

The New York Times reported this.

The media points out that after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States officially adhered to the hard-line, refusing to provide Kyiv with the necessary weapons to attack the invader’s military targets on the Crimean peninsula.

Now, this position is starting to soften, the American media notes.

Several officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the publication that after months of discussions with Ukrainian officials, the Biden administration is starting to recognize that Ukraine might need weapons to strike Russian invaders in Crimea, even if such a move would increase the risk of escalation.

The Biden Administration concluded that if the Ukrainian military could show Russia that its control of Crimea could be at risk, it would strengthen Kyiv’s position in any future negotiations.

In addition, fears that Russia would respond by using tactical nuclear weapons have faded, although the risk still remains.

Currently, the New York Times sources claim that the US officials are discussing the use of American weapons – from HIMARS missile systems to Bradley combat vehicles – with their Ukrainian counterparts to possibly destroy Russia’s control over the land corridor that connects occupied Crimea to Russia along the Azov Sea coast through the cities of Melitopol and Mariupol.

At the same time, the article notes that the US President is not yet ready to provide Ukraine with the long-range missile systems needed by Kyiv to attack Russian facilities on the peninsula.

The American media claims that Ukrainian military officials also discussed with their US counterparts the importance of increasing pressure on Russian rear military bases in occupied Crimea, which support military operations of invaders in other regions of Ukraine.

According to the American official, the ability to rely on military bases in Crimea to conduct hostilities was the main reason why last year, Russian forces were able to capture part of the southern regions of Ukraine.

In his opinion, a decrease in the combat capability of these forces is a key goal of Ukrainians on the battlefield.