President Joe Biden has suggested that Washington may lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of US long-range missiles against Russia.
If approved, this would address Ukraine’s repeated requests to ease limitations on US-supplied weapons, which officials claim have hindered their ability to combat Russia’s full-scale invasion effectively.
Russia has not yet responded, but President Vladimir Putin has previously warned that such actions could result in “very serious problems.”
Biden’s comments come as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy are set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
Blinken stated that one of their objectives for the visit is to “hear directly from the Ukrainian leadership” about their “goals and how we can support those needs.”
Blinken and Lammy are traveling to Kyiv after discussions in London. During his UK visit, Blinken accused Iran of providing short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, which could potentially be used against Ukrainians within weeks. Lammy called Iran’s actions “a significant and dangerous escalation.”
The missiles are expected to enhance Russia’s arsenal, allowing it to target Ukrainian cities near the Russian border or areas it already controls, while continuing to deploy longer-range missiles deeper into Ukrainian territory.
Iran has consistently denied supplying such guided weapons to Russia.
When asked by reporters on Tuesday if the US would lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons, President Biden indicated that his administration is “working that out now.”
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the US has been cautious about providing or permitting weapons capable of striking deep inside Russia, due to concerns about escalating the conflict.
However, some restrictions have been eased, allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles against areas along the Russian border where troops are stationed.
Kyiv’s other allies have also provided long-range weapons, though with limitations on their use within Russia to prevent potential retaliation that could involve NATO countries or provoke a nuclear conflict.
Recently, President Zelensky has criticized the slow pace of weapon deliveries and sought authorization to use Western-supplied missiles to target deep inside Russia—a request the US has so far resisted.
President Putin has previously warned that Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory with Western missiles could lead to a broader war.
“Constant escalation can lead to serious consequences,” he said in May. “Do they want a global conflict?”
He also noted that responsibility for any strikes within Russia’s territory would fall on Western arms suppliers, even if the strikes were carried out by Ukrainian forces.
Separately on Tuesday, the US, UK, France, and Germany imposed new sanctions on Iran for supplying Russia with ballistic missiles intended for use in Ukraine.
The sanctions include restrictions on Iran Air’s flights to the UK and Europe, as well as travel bans and asset freezes on several Iranians accused of facilitating military support for Russia.