‘Ukraine must defend itself’: Washington leaders dismiss Putin’s war talk

U.S. officials and legislators responded strongly after Vladimir Putin claimed that if NATO were to remove restrictions on Ukraine conducting long-range attacks into Russian land, it would imply that NATO nations were "at war" with Russia.

On Friday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with President Joe Biden at the White House. They were anticipated to talk about potentially easing restrictions on Storm Shadow missiles, which could enable Ukraine to hit targets located up to 155 miles into Russia. They may not reveal any decisions during this meeting, but discussions are on the table.

Putin informed Russian journalists on Thursday that this would imply that NATO nations, specifically the U.S. and European countries, find themselves engaged in conflict with Russia. He added that if this situation arises, they would carefully consider how to respond to the new nature of the conflict and the threats it presents to them.

The missiles are being developed collaboratively by the UK and France, and both nations seem to be looking for Biden's approval to ease the limitations on using these long-range missiles. Western officials have suggested that the US does not intend to permit its missiles to reach targets located further within Russian territory.

Washington and London have signaled that they have no intention of revealing any policy changes. On Friday, Moscow's ambassador to the UN informed the security council that easing the current restrictions would lead to an escalation that could result in a "direct war" between Moscow and NATO.

The comments triggered a furious reaction in Washington, with officials accusing the Russian leader of making threats to intimidate NATO nations and discourage them from backing Ukraine.

Senator Jim Risch, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated that Ukraine should be allowed to target locations deep within Russia. This includes going after Russian bombers that are actively firing missiles at Ukrainian cities.

Risch stated that Putin's recent warnings about a direct clash with NATO are merely a tactic to intimidate the West into withdrawing its support for Ukraine. He understands that Ukraine's long-range attacks could inflict considerable harm on his military campaign. Although a number of Russian missiles have fallen on NATO territory, NATO has chosen not to escalate the situation.

"Ukraine should have the right to protect itself, no question about it. If that involves targeting a Russian bomber that is firing missiles at Ukrainian citizens from Russian territory, then Ukraine ought to have the capability to make that move," he stated.

During a press briefing on Friday, John Kirby, the spokesperson for the US National Security Council, indicated that it's unlikely there will be any news regarding the easing of restrictions on Ukraine’s use of missiles provided by Britain and France.

However, he also mentioned that the United States and its NATO partners have their own considerations when it comes to determining what assistance to offer Ukraine.

"I never claimed that we dismiss Mr. Putin's threats. When he starts talking about nuclear weapons, we definitely pay attention. We keep a close watch on that. He has clearly shown that he can be aggressive and escalate tensions. However, this isn’t new to us. We're aware of it and are taking it seriously," Kirby stated.

Biden and Starmer were holding their second meeting at the White House following last month's NATO summit. This gathering took place just days after the Labour Party won the UK general election, regaining power after being in opposition for 14 years.

The two leaders were anticipated to cover a range of international issues, such as the situation in Ukraine, the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, the Aukus alliance involving the UK, Australia, and the US, among other subjects.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is set to reveal his "victory plan" to President Biden during the UN General Assembly later this month. As the US presidential elections approach, concerns are rising for Ukraine, especially with the possibility of Donald Trump returning to office.

While intense conversations about the war's future are happening privately, Washington and its allies remain committed to supporting Ukraine in its conflict.

"The White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, stated on Friday, 'We will do everything possible to ensure Ukraine has the resources it needs for self-defense. This is our pledge. You’ve likely noticed the strong commitment and significant support from both our administration and our international partners in this effort. This is what you can look forward to moving forward.'"