No More Boundaries: Ukraine Should Be Unleashed on Russia’s Military Targets

 

If the West is afraid of escalation, then it’s already lost—let Ukraine unleash its full military potential and show Russia the real consequences of war.

The Ukraine-Russia war has turned into a long-running chess match, and America, it seems, has forgotten that sometimes the best defense is a good offense. The hesitancy from the West, particularly from President Joe Biden, about authorizing Ukraine to strike deep inside Russian territory has baffled many observers. It raises a simple but poignant question: why is this idea so difficult for America and its allies to understand? Ukraine’s strikes could be the game-changer, yet the West remains stuck in a cautious mindset, refusing to give Ukraine the green light to hit back harder at Russia.

President Biden’s foreign policy decisions have come under increasing scrutiny, especially given the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, which left a bitter taste in many mouths. That failure still haunts his presidency and the memory of it might be what’s keeping him on his toes when dealing with the Ukraine crisis. But does he really want this Ukraine business to be another chapter of unfinished work when he leaves office? His reluctance to support Ukraine’s more aggressive moves risks adding this crisis to his legacy of half-measures. A legacy that may remember him as the president who couldn’t pull the plug on Russia’s dominance, just like he couldn’t effectively close the Afghanistan chapter.

It’s important to remember that wars aren’t won by timidity. History has shown us that decisive action often spells victory. During World War II, the Allies didn’t hesitate to hit Germany hard on its own turf. That’s what led to the eventual crumbling of the Nazi regime. Ukraine faces a similar tyrant in President Vladimir Putin, a man whose ambition seems to have no limits. Yet, for some reason, the West is uncomfortable with allowing Ukraine to go after military targets within Russia, as though the rules of warfare suddenly require more courtesy when dealing with Moscow.

This reluctance from the West gives Putin a strange advantage. While Russian missiles rain down on Ukrainian cities, military infrastructure, and civilians, Ukraine is largely held back from responding in kind. It's almost as if the world expects Ukraine to fight this war with one hand tied behind its back. The West’s support has been generous with weaponry, yes, but the strict limits on where those weapons can be used make it harder for Ukraine to break the Russian offensive.

One must wonder if President Biden and his European counterparts are aware of how this imbalance makes them look weak. Did they forget that Putin has never played by the rules? He’s made a career out of exploiting weakness, whether it's in Georgia, Crimea, or Syria. His pattern is clear: the moment he senses hesitancy, he pounces. And now, Ukraine finds itself facing the full brunt of Russian aggression, while the West debates whether it's "appropriate" to strike inside Russia.

What’s especially bizarre is that international law doesn’t even prohibit Ukraine from hitting military targets inside Russia. The principle of self-defense, enshrined in the United Nations Charter, gives Ukraine every right to target Russian military assets that are being used to attack them. Yet, there is a curious reluctance in the West to acknowledge this reality. America and its allies act as though expanding the battlefield into Russia itself is a moral or strategic line that should not be crossed. But history is full of instances where wars were won by taking the fight to the enemy's doorstep. Why should this war be any different?

The West seems to be living in a fantasy where containing the war within Ukraine’s borders will somehow bring about a peaceful resolution. But that notion ignores how wars work. Limiting Ukraine’s capacity to strike Russia simply prolongs the war, giving Putin time to regroup, re-strategize, and continue his brutal campaign. This isn’t just about Ukraine’s sovereignty anymore—this is about global security. Putin has repeatedly shown that he will not stop at Ukraine. He’s testing the waters to see how far the West will bend before it breaks.

If there’s any lesson that can be drawn from the last few years, it’s that half-measures don’t work. Look at the U.S. in Afghanistan. After 20 years of fighting, the hasty and chaotic withdrawal allowed the Taliban to swoop back into power in mere weeks. Biden’s decision to pull out prematurely left the U.S. scrambling to explain how things went so wrong so quickly. That mistake is now a stain on his presidency, and if he doesn’t take decisive action on Ukraine, he may very well be remembered for another failure. Did he really want to go down in history as the president who left two wars unfinished?

Authorizing Ukraine to strike military targets deep inside Russia isn’t just a tactical move—it’s a message. It tells Putin that his aggression will have real consequences, and it tells the world that the West is no longer willing to be pushed around by autocrats. It would remind the Kremlin that there are limits to what they can get away with, and that the consequences of their actions will be felt at home, not just in Ukraine. The West’s reluctance to authorize these strikes sends the opposite message—that Putin’s threats of escalation still hold weight, that the West is still afraid.

Of course, critics will argue that authorizing Ukraine to strike inside Russia risks escalating the conflict further. But isn’t the war already an escalation of Russian aggression? Let’s not forget that Putin himself was the one who started this war, just as he has started every other conflict in the last two decades. Pretending that Ukraine striking back at Russian military targets would suddenly "escalate" things is delusional. The war is already raging, and the only way to end it is by letting Ukraine defend itself fully, without these arbitrary restrictions imposed by the West.

In plain English, President Biden must realize that the world is watching. His decisions on Ukraine will shape how he is remembered, not just in America but across the globe. This isn’t just another geopolitical conflict—it’s a test of leadership, of courage, and of the West’s willingness to stand up for democratic values. Will Biden rise to the occasion, or will he sleepwalk through this crisis like he did with Afghanistan? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: if he doesn’t act soon, this war will be yet another unfinished chapter in his legacy.

It’s time to wake up, Mr. President. After all, history waits for no one—except maybe for Vladimir Putin, who seems to have all the time in the world.