The White House announced on Wednesday that it is reaching out to key ally Ukraine to better understand the “objectives” behind Kyiv’s most significant cross-border incursion into Russian territory in months.
“We’re going to contact the Ukrainian military to learn more about their objectives,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters when asked about the operation.
Jean-Pierre emphasized that Washington supports “common sense” actions by Ukraine to counter attacks from Russian forces.
In May, President Joe Biden authorized Kyiv to use American-supplied weapons against targets just across the Russian border in order to repel Moscow’s advance in the Kharkiv region.
However, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated separately that “nothing had changed” regarding U.S. policy discouraging broader strikes or attacks inside Russia.
Following Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, which is now in its second day, thousands of civilians on both sides of the border have been evacuated.
U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller dismissed Moscow’s criticisms of the Ukrainian attack, stating, “I have seen the statements from the Russian government. It is a little bit rich for them to call it a provocation, given Russia’s violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.”
