Washington
The United States said on Tuesday (local time) that it was "not encouraging" Ukraine to carry out strikes inside Russia. The statement from US has come after several drone attacks on Russian airbases. These attacks are widely being perceived as having been carried out by Ukraine. Kyiv hasn't yet claimed responsibility.
"We are not enabling Ukraine to strike beyond its borders; we are not encouraging Ukraine to strike beyond its borders," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.
"Everything we are doing -- everything the world is doing to support Ukraine -- is in support of Ukraine's independence," he said.
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Price stopped short of attributing drone attacks to Ukraine. Russia said three people were killed and two aircraft were damaged in the drone attacks on Monday. Three bases deep in Russian territory were attacked.
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Experts believe Ukraine penetrated Russian airspace with simple Soviet-era drones and not any of the billions of dollars in military assistance given by Western powers since Moscow's February 24 invasion.
"We are providing Ukraine with what it needs to use on its sovereign territory -- on Ukrainian soil -- to take on Russian aggressors," Price said.
Price also declined comment on a Wall Street Journal report that the United States has altered HIMARS sent to Ukraine -- a rocket system seen as a game-changer on the battlefield -- to prevent firing into Russia.
(With inputs from agencies)
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