Ukraine takes the fight to Russia

The current successful offensive was undoubtedly a blessing for the morale of Ukrainian civilians and soldiers, a shock for Putin and a surprise – probably not an unpleasant one – for official Washington, because until now the Ukrainian military had been kept on a short leash when it came to stationing weapons donated by the USA on or near the Russian border.

The Biden administration imposed the handcuffs because it did not want to escalate the war or enter into open conflict with nuclear power Russia. But the rules, which continue to restrict the use of certain types of US weapons on Russian territory, also limit Ukraine's military options.

A counterattack on the country that started a war against it is well within Ukraine's rights. And although Ukraine claims to have captured 93 settlements and occupied about 1,290 square kilometers of Russian territory (a claim Russia denies), there appears to be no intention of permanent annexation, but rather an attempt to use the captured territory as a possible bargaining tool in future peace negotiations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his speech on Sunday evening that the aim of the operation was to create “a buffer zone on the territory of the aggressor”.

“Everything that inflicts losses on the Russian army, the Russian state, its military-industrial complex and its economy helps prevent the war from escalating and brings us closer to a just end to this aggression,” Zelensky said.

John Kirby, the US national communications adviser, said that if Putin is uncomfortable with Ukraine's incursions into the western Russian region, “there is a simple solution: He can just get out of Ukraine and be done with it.”

Kirby had previously confirmed that there had been “no changes in our policy approach” regarding the use of American weapons.

“They are deploying them in an area where we have previously said they could use US weapons for cross-border attacks. The ultimate goal is to help Ukraine defend itself.”

The key to the success of the offensive so far has been the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) provided by the US, which is mobile and can fire rockets and destroy Russian weapons within a radius of about 80 kilometers.

But often that is not enough – hence this popular meme. The US has not given permission to use other weapons systems, thereby limiting Ukraine's ability to protect itself.

A day before the Ukrainian offensive began, Yehor Cherniev, deputy chairman of the Ukrainian parliament's Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, told the Globe: “Russia has always built its airfields close to its western border in the past, so we have demanded the lifting of restrictions on the use of long-range weapons. They sent guided bombs across the border that we could not intercept.”

“Every day it's the same,” he added. “We can't survive in the trenches forever. We have the rockets, but it's like fighting with one hand tied behind your back.”

Cherniev had just returned from Washington, where he had delivered his speech at the White House and to members of Congress.

One specific item on Ukraine's agenda is permission to use the Army's Long-Range Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which can be fired from HIMARS but has a range of 305 kilometers. Cherniev's main hope is that if the United States agrees to use it, France and Britain will also lift restrictions on the use of the weapons they supply.

“Look, our aim here is not to reach the Kremlin,” Cherniev said.

Cherniev's shopping list for Washington also included accelerating the delivery of already promised US military aid – ammunition and air defense equipment. And indeed, a few days after the Kursk operation, the Pentagon released a tranche of these supplies worth $125 million.

And then, of course, there are the newly arrived F-16 fighter jets – just ten so far out of a fleet of 79 still awaiting their freshly trained pilots – which, however, greatly enhance Ukraine's defense capabilities. But they are only useful to the extent that the United States and the rest of the international community allow them to be.

The real lesson of the Kursk invasion is that Ukraine has, by all accounts, demonstrated that it is capable of planning and executing a successful offensive despite having one hand tied behind its back – an operational obstacle that it now no doubt rightly demands the West remove.

Despite this triumph, Ukraine still faces an existential threat. But at least it has created not just a buffer zone, as Zelensky admitted, but a valuable asset for future peace negotiations.

Editorials reflect the views of the Boston Globe editorial board. Follow us @GlobeOpinion.