Biden, Britain's Starmer set to meet as Ukraine pushes to ease weapons restrictions

Ukraine's push to ease restrictions on the use of weapons from the United States and Britain will be discussed Friday in White House talks between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Ukraine wants to use some weapons to strike deeper into Russia, and there are signs the White House might shift its policy in response. Still, two U. S. officials say it appeared unlikely that Biden and Starmer would announce any policy changes at this time.

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 U. S. 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 U. S. has adapted and "will adjust as necessary" as Russia's battlefield strategy has changed. Blinken spoke similarly in May, shortly before the U.

S. 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 no.