In a significant shift, the United States has expanded its agreement with Ukraine to allow strikes inside Russian territory wherever Russian forces are engaging in cross-border attacks into Ukraine. This update comes after National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan's interview with PBS News on Monday, where he emphasized that the agreement extends to any location where Russian forces attempt to invade Ukrainian territory.

Pentagon spokesman Maj. Charlie Dietz confirmed the expanded agreement in a statement, stating that Ukraine now has permission to fire US-provided weapons into Russia when Russian forces are crossing the border to seize additional Ukrainian territory. Dietz argued that allowing Ukraine to respond to attacks originating from Russian territory is a logical step in defending itself.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin initially suggested during a press conference at a NATO meeting that the policy was limited to the Kharkiv region. However, this recent development indicates a departure from the initial restricted nature of the agreement. President Joe Biden had granted Ukraine limited permission to conduct strikes inside Russia in May but primarily limited it to the Kharkiv region following a renewed offensive from Russian forces.

The change in policy follows a reassessment of previous reluctance by the US. A senior Defense Department official stated in a press briefing at NATO headquarters in Brussels that there have been "a number of areas" where the US has reconsidered its previous position. The official acknowledged that constant conversation and reassessment of the situation is necessary.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also expressed support for allowing Ukraine more flexibility to strike military targets on Russian territory. Stoltenberg noted that Russia had opened a new front in the north, attacking directly from Russian territory just across the border. He emphasized Ukraine's right to self-defense and called for support in defending themselves against Russian aggression.

The updated agreement also grants Ukraine the ability to use their US-provided air defense systems to shoot down Russian planes in Russian airspace if they pose an imminent threat. This was confirmed by National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, who underlined that the Ukrainians have had the capability to shoot down hostile aircraft throughout the conflict.

Although this expanded agreement marks a significant shift from the initial limited strikes, it remains to be seen how and when Ukraine will act on the new permissions granted. The change reflects a strengthened commitment by the US to support Ukraine's defense against Russian encroachments, signaling a potential escalation in the ongoing conflict.