Biden, Starmer set to meet as Ukraine pushes for easing of weapons restrictions

Associated Press, Washington: Ukraine's push to ease restrictions on the use of weapons from the US and Britain will be discussed later on Friday in White House talks between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Ukraine wants approval to use some weapons to strike deeper into Russia and there are signs Biden might shift US policy in response. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Ukraine's use of long-range weapons would put NATO at war with Moscow. While the issue is expected to be at the top of the agenda for the meeting, it appeared unlikely that Biden and Starmer would announce any policy changes at this time, according to two US officials familiar with planning for the talks.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the private deliberations. During this week's visit to Kyiv by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Ukrainian officials renewed their pleas to use Western-provided long-range missiles against targets deeper inside Russia.Blinken said he had no doubt that Biden and Starmer would discuss the matter, noting the US has adapted and will adjust as necessary as Russia's battlefield strategy has changed. Blinken spoke similarly in May, shortly before the US allowed Ukraine to use American-provided weapons just inside Russian territory. The permitted distance has been largely limited to cross-border targets deemed a direct threat, out of concerns about further escalating the conflict. Biden also has hinted that a change could be afoot.

In an exchange with reporters this week about whether he was ready to ease weapons restrictions on Ukraine, he responded, We're working that out now. Putin said Thursday that allowing long-range strikes would mean that NATO countries, the United States, and European countries are at war with Russia. His remarks were in line with the narrative the Kremlin has promoted since early in the Ukraine war, accusing NATO countries of de-facto participation in the conflict and threatening a response. Starmer, in response to Putin's comments Thursday, said on his way to the US that Britain does not seek any conflict with Russia.