Biden secretly gave Ukraine permission to strike Russia with US weapons, Politico reports

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – US President Joe Biden secretly gave Ukraine permission to strike inside Russia — only near the Kharkiv region — with U.S. weapons, Politico reported Thursday, citing a U.S. official and two other people familiar with the plan.

“The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S. weapons for counter-fire purposes in Kharkiv so that Ukraine can retaliate against Russian forces that strike or attack them. preparing to strike them,” Politico reported, quoting a U.S. official who added. that the policy of allowing long-range strikes inside Russia “has not changed.”

The Politico story does not specify when Biden gave permission.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of the threat of global conflict if kyiv’s Western allies allow it to use weapons they have provided to strike inside Russia, which the Ukrainian government urges its partners to authorize.

The United States has said it does not encourage or authorize the use of American weapons for direct attacks against Russia, but Secretary of State Antony Blinken, when asked about Washington’s current position on the issue , said Wednesday that they would “adjust and adapt.”

(Reporting by Paul Grant; editing by Eric Beech)