Biden Hints at Lifting Missile Limits on Ukraine

WASHINGTON - US President Joe Biden has hinted at lifting US restrictions on Ukraine using American long-range missiles against 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". Putin warned earlier this year that attacks by Ukraine on Russia with Western missiles risked triggering a wider war.

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 will lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range weapons, Biden said his administration is "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.

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