America News Agency

Following the US announcement that it had authorized Ukraine to carry out cross-border attacks on Russian territory using American-made weapons, Putin's suggestion that “Moscow may prefer an asymmetric response and send similar weapons to various parts of the world that could be used against sensitive areas in countries that support Ukraine” prompted the US to backtrack.

In an interview with ABC News on Thursday, Biden confirmed that Ukraine is allowed to use U.S.-made weapons in attacks inside Russia but claimed that Kyiv can only launch those weapons “close to the border when used to attack specific targets in Ukraine on the other side of the border.”

“We do not authorize strikes within 200 miles of Russia, and we do not authorize strikes on Moscow, on the Kremlin,” Biden emphasized.

Russia accused Ukraine of attempting to attack the Kremlin last May. At the time, Russian officials claimed that two Ukrainian drones were neutralized in the heart of Moscow, adding that the failed attack was interpreted as an “assassination attempt” against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Biden confirmed in the interview that he was concerned about Putin's reaction to the US policy change on cross-border strikes. The Russian President had previously characterized the decision as a confirmation of the “direct participation of Western countries in the war”.

The US decision to allow Ukraine to launch “limited” strikes against Russia was reported by several Western media outlets last week and later confirmed by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The decision came on the heels of a Russian offensive in the bordering Kharkiv Region that resulted in Kyiv troops being pushed back and concerns expressed in the White House that Moscow could seize Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city.

Russia accused Ukraine of attempting to attack the Kremlin last May. At the time, Russian officials claimed that two Ukrainian drones were neutralized in the heart of Moscow, adding that the failed attack was interpreted as an “assassination attempt” against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Biden confirmed in the interview that he was concerned about Putin's reaction to the US policy change on cross-border strikes. The Russian President had previously characterized the decision as a confirmation of the “direct participation of Western countries in the war”.

The US decision to allow Ukraine to launch “limited” strikes against Russia was reported by several Western media outlets last week and later confirmed by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The decision came on the heels of a Russian offensive in the bordering Kharkiv Region that resulted in Kyiv troops being pushed back and concerns expressed in the White House that Moscow could seize Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city.

On Wednesday, Putin told reporters on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg Economic Forum that the United States and other NATO members had given Ukraine long-range missiles that could be used to strike deep into Russian territory, warning that the move marked a significant escalation in the conflict and could backfire in the West.

Putin specifically said that Moscow could opt for an “asymmetric” response and send similar weapons to parts of the world where they could be used against sensitive areas in countries supporting Ukraine.