President Joe Biden has suggested that Washington may ease restrictions on Ukraine's use of US-supplied long-range missiles against Russia. If granted, this move would meet Ukraine's repeated requests to relax limits on the use of these weapons, which officials say have hindered their efforts to defend against Russia's full-scale invasion.
Russia has yet to comment, though President Vladimir Putin has previously warned that such actions could lead to "very serious problems." Biden's statement comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy prepare to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. Blinken highlighted the importance of hearing directly from Ukraine's leadership about their objectives and identifying further support, following discussions in London.
During his UK visit, Blinken accused Iran of supplying short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, predicting they could be used against Ukraine within weeks. Lammy condemned Iran's actions, calling them a "significant and dangerous escalation." These missiles are expected to strengthen Russia's military capabilities, allowing it to strike Ukrainian cities near the border or deeper into Ukraine while also using longer-range missiles.
Iran, however, denies supplying such weapons to Russia. When asked about lifting restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons, President Biden stated that his administration was “working that out now.” Since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, the US has been cautious about providing or allowing the use of weapons that could hit targets deep inside Russia, concerned about escalating the conflict. Nonetheless, the US has gradually relaxed some constraints, permitting Ukraine to target Russian border areas where troops are stationed.
Other Western allies have also provided long-range weapons, but with conditions on how and when they can be used against Russia, fearing that deep strikes could provoke retaliation, involve NATO countries, or escalate the conflict to a nuclear level. Ukrainian President Zelensky has recently expressed frustration with the pace of weapons deliveries and called for approval to hit targets inside Russia with Western missiles, a request the US has been reluctant to grant.
Earlier this year, President Putin cautioned that Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory using Western missiles could trigger a broader war, stating that "constant escalation can lead to serious consequences" and warning against a global conflict. He emphasized that Western arms suppliers would bear responsibility for any strikes inside Russia, even if Ukraine's forces carried them out.
Meanwhile, the US, UK, France, and Germany imposed new sanctions on Iran for allegedly supplying Russia with ballistic missiles. The sanctions include restrictions on Iran Air's flights to the UK and Europe, along with travel bans and asset freezes on several Iranians accused of aiding Russia's military efforts.