President Joe Biden has quietly allowed Kyiv to fire U.S.-supplied weapons at targets inside Russia but only near the border with the area around Ukraine's northern city of Kharkiv, U.S. officials said on Thursday.
The decision amounts to a policy shift by Biden, who until now steadfastly refused to let Ukraine use American weaponry for strikes inside Russia.
"The President recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S.-supplied weapons for counter-fire purposes in the Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them," said one U.S. official.
Russia's embassy in Washington and Russia's mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
NATO allies have been calling on the U.S. to allow Ukraine to use Western weapons against missile launchers and other military sites inside Russia that are supporting a cross-border offensive that Moscow launched toward Kharkiv this month.
Russia jetfighters flying inside Russia have been backing the drive by launching glide bombs at Kharkiv and Ukrainian defense lines.
Word of Biden's decision broke shortly after the Pentagon said the U.S. policy against use of U.S. weapons inside Russia had remained unchanged.
"The security assistance that we provide Ukraine is to be used within Ukraine. And we don't encourage attacks, or enable attacks, inside of Russia," said Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
India Urges Citizens In Russian Regions To Relocate Over Security Concerns Ukrainian Troops Moving Further In Russia's Kursk, Says Zelensky Zelensky Says Ukraine Controls 74 Russian Settlements Trump, Musk Groove To Bee Gees' 'Stayin' Alive' In AI-Video Now Viral 150 mg Semen In Kolkata Doctor's Body, Suspect Gang-Rape: Parents To Court Mob Vandalises Hospital During Protest Over Kolkata Horror US Judge Says "Monopolist" Google Can't Avoid App Store Reforms NASA To Decide Stranded Starliner Astronauts' Route Home By End Of Month Mob Vandalises Hospital During Protest Over Kolkata Horror Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.