Biden Eases Ukraine Arms Ban, Allowing Use in Strikes Against Russia

President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use American weaponry to defend Kharkiv by striking inside Russia, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the situation.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, clarified that the U.S. policy remains unchanged, urging Ukraine not to use American-provided long-range missiles and other munitions for offensive strikes inside Russia.

This decision follows increased calls from Ukrainian officials for the U.S. to allow its forces to defend against attacks originating from Russian territory.

Politico was the first to report Biden’s decision.

There has been a growing chorus of officials and nations advocating for Ukraine’s ability to defend itself by targeting sites in Russian territory.

Earlier in the week, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a warning about allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons for strikes in Russia, emphasizing the potential “serious consequences.”

“This constant escalation could have serious consequences,” Putin stated during a visit to Uzbekistan.

He cautioned European countries about the risks involved, especially due to their small territories and dense populations, if they were to support strikes deep into Russian territory.

Putin indicated that the responsibility for such actions would rest with the Western suppliers of the weapons, should Ukraine carry out the strikes.

He also expressed concerns about the presence of Western military instructors in Ukraine, warning that any official deployment of such personnel would escalate the situation and increase the likelihood of a conflict in Europe.

AFP contributed to this report.