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Sen. Mark Kelly said Sunday that Ukraine’s decision to counter the ongoing Russian invasion by attacking Russia itself could change how that war plays out.
Speaking on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” the Arizona Democrat said: “130,000 Russians have had to leave their homes and, at this point in this conflict, I think the Ukrainians did something unpredictable that could really change the tide of how this conflict’s gonna play out.”
At the time of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, there were fears that if Ukraine and its allies expanded the war to Russian territory, a regional or global conflict could break out. The war, however, has largely settled into a stalemate, at least until Ukraine’s forces crossed into the Kursk region in Russian territory.
On Sunday, host Margaret Brennan asked Kelly if he was comfortable with American weapons being used on Russian soil now.
“I am at this point,” Kelly said. “The Ukrainians were illegally attacked by Vladimir Putin. … He is intentionally killing women, children, old people. It was an illegal invasion. This incursion, and I’ll just, let’s characterize it that way for now. I don’t think the Ukrainians want to intentionally hold Russian territory for a long period of time, but this really set Putin back on his heels.”
Kelly added: “Since the invasion, now, over two years ago, we have, you know, periodically, as we should reevaluate, you know, how we’re going to conduct ourselves with regards to the Ukrainians’ use of the security assistance that we provide them. And I think it’s appropriate to continue to look at what their needs are.”
Ukraine’s invasion of Russian territory this month is widely seen as an attempt to take the pressure off its forces defending their territory from Russian invaders, as well as put Ukraine in a better position for any peace talks that might take place.
On Sunday, it was reported that Ukrainian forces had destroyed a second bridge in the Kursk region, limiting Russia’s ability to resupply its forces.
Kursk was the site of a massive tank battle between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany in the summer of 1943; the Soviet victory there put the Germans pretty much into permanent retreat on the Eastern front of World War II. In August 2023, Putin commemorated that victory by calling that battle “forever one of the pinnacles of the great feats of our people.”
Kelly said that Ukraine’s offensive should teach Russians that President Vladimir Putin is not the peerless protector he has made himself out to be.
“He has always tried to characterize himself as somebody that is going to protect Russia,” Kelly said. “I think his citizens are seeing the results of what he has done in Ukraine that now they are somewhat at risk.”
