President Joe Biden has indicated that Washington will lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of American long-range missiles. against Russia.

If granted, this decision would meet Ukraine’s repeated demands to ease restrictions on US arms sales. According to official sources, they are therefore left with their hands tied in the fight against a large-scale invasion by Russia.

Russia has not yet commented, but President Vladimir Putin has previously stated that such action could lead to: “very serious problems”.

Biden’s comments come after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Iran of supplying Russia with short-range ballistic missiles.

When asked by reporters whether the U.S. would lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons on Tuesday, President Biden said his administration was “working on that right now.”

Since Russia began its large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the United States has been reluctant to supply weapons or authorize the use of such weapons that could hit targets deep inside Russia, fearing an escalation of the conflict.

However, some of the restrictions on the use of such missiles have been relaxed. For example, Ukraine is now allowed to attack areas along the Russian border with long-range missiles fired by troops.

Kiev’s other allies have also supplied some long-range weapons – but with restrictions on how and when they can be used in Russia. There are fears that such attacks could trigger retaliatory strikes, drag NATO countries into war or provoke a nuclear conflict.

In recent months, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized the pace of arms deliveries and asked for permission to attack targets deep inside Russia with missiles from the West – a move the United States has so far resisted.

Russia’s leader Putin also warned earlier this year that attacks by Ukraine on Russia with Western missiles carries the risk of triggering a larger war.

“Continuous escalation can lead to serious consequences,” he said in May. “Do you want a global conflict?”

He added that the responsibility for any attacks on Russian territory lies with Western arms suppliers, even if Ukrainian forces carry out those attacks.

Separately on Tuesday, the USA, Great Britain, France and Germany imposed new sanctions on Iran for supplying Russia with ballistic missiles for use in Ukraine.

The measures included restrictions on flights by the national airline Iran Air to Britain and Europe, as well as travel bans and asset freezes on a number of Iranians accused of facilitating military support for Russia.

During a visit to London, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Russians had been trained by Iranian forces in the use of short-range ballistic missiles and could be deployed against the Ukrainians within weeks.

The missiles are expected to bolster Russia’s arsenal, allowing the country to attack Ukrainian cities near the Russian border or areas it already controls, while deploying its longer-range missiles deeper into Ukrainian territory.

Iran has repeatedly denied supplying such self-guided weapons to Russia.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy described Iran’s move as “a significant and dangerous escalation.”

Blinken and Lammy will travel together to Kyiv on Wednesday, where they will meet with President Zelensky.

Blinken said one of her goals ahead of the visit was to “hear directly from Ukrainian leaders” about their “goals and what we can do to support those needs.”