Biden hints at ending Ukraine long-range weapons restrictions

BBC:

President Joe Biden has hinted at Washington lifting restrictions on Ukraine using US long-range missilesagainst Russia.

If granted, it would fulfil repeated requests by Ukraine to loosen the limits on US-supplied weapons,which officials have said has left them fighting against Russia’s full-scale invasion with their hands tied.

Russia is yet to comment but President Vladimir Putin has previously said such action could lead to “very serious problems”.

Biden’s remarks come after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Iran of supplying short-range ballistic missiles to Russia.

Asked by reporters if the US would lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons on Tuesday, President Biden said his administration was “working that out now”.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the US has been reluctant to supply or sanction the use of weapons that could strike targets deep inside Russia for fear it would escalate the conflict.

It has however loosened some of the restraints on such missile use, allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles to strike areas along Russia’s border where troops are firing from.

Kyiv’s other allies have also been supplying some long-range weapons – with restrictions on how and when they can be used inside Russia, out of concern such strikes could prompt retaliation that draws Nato countries into the war or provokes a nuclear conflict.

In recent months Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticised the pace of weapons deliveries, and asked for authorisation to strike targets deep inside Russia with Western-supplied missiles – a move the US has thus far resisted.

Russia’s leader Putin also warned earlier this year that attacks by Ukraine on Russia with Western missiles risked triggering a wider war.

“Constant escalation can lead to serious consequences,” he said in May. “Do they want a global conflict?”

He added responsibility for any strikes inside Russia’s territory would lie with Western arms suppliers, even if Ukraine’s forces carried out the strikes.