White House Indicates No Change in US Policy on Long-Range Missiles to Ukraine Expected Friday, According to Reuters

By Doina Chiacu

WASHINGTON – The United States is not expected to announce any new policy regarding Ukraine and the use of long-range missiles, according to the White House.

"There is no change to our view on the provision of long range strike capabilities for Ukraine to use inside of Russia," stated John Kirby, national security spokesman for the White House, during a press briefing. He noted that no significant announcements should be anticipated following the discussions between U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Biden and Starmer are scheduled to meet at the White House on Friday afternoon.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been urging allies for months to allow Ukraine to launch Western missiles, including long-range U.S. ATACMS and British Storm Shadows, into Russian territory.

Kirby addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s warning that any Ukrainian strikes using Western-made long-range missiles could signify direct involvement from the West. He emphasized that this is not a new position from Putin.

"This is not rhetoric that we haven’t heard from him before," Kirby remarked. "He has obviously proven capable of aggression…so, yeah, we take these comments seriously."