The Pentagon is not worried about escalation due to the events in the Kursk region; Kyiv again asks Washington for permission to use ATACMS in Russian territory.

The Pentagon is not concerned with the possible increase in tensions with the Russian Federation after Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk region, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said. She emphasized that Ukraine is entitled to do everything possible to continue to reclaim its sovereign territory and the events in the Kursk region fit into this scenario.

“We will continue to support Ukraine with the capabilities and systems it needs. We do not feel that this leads to escalation,” Singh said.

She added that Ukraine’s advance in the Kursk region is consistent with US policy, although the US continues not to support long-range strikes into Russian territory. Despite that, Kyiv once again asked Washington to be allowed to strike targets inside Russia with long-range ATACMS missiles. As The WP notes, this would help Ukrainian forces to hold territories in the Kursk region for a certain time.

“This will provide the leverage necessary for negotiations with Russia,” said an unnamed Zelenskyy adviser.