Conversations at the United Nations General Assembly will continue in the coming days, according to Britain’s prime minister.
When the heads of the U.S. and British governments met at the White House on Friday, no immediate decision was made on Ukraine’s requests to lift restrictions on the use of Western-supplied arms to strike into Russia.
President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, as well as issues in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific.
Starmer described the meeting as “long and productive,” but did not directly address the question of whether Ukraine should be allowed to use certain missiles to strike into Russia.
He emphasized that the discussions at the meeting were not about a specific decision, and that talks would continue with a broader group of world leaders at the United National General Assembly (UNGA).
“Ukraine has the right to self-defense, and we have stood united,” Starmer told reporters at the White House.
The meeting came after Russian President Vladimir Putin made remarks that were interpreted as a threat to escalate the conflict with the West.
Putin warned that allowing Kyiv to use Western-supplied long-range arms could lead to a broader war with the West, marking NATO’s direct involvement in the conflict.
Regarding Putin’s remarks, Biden expressed his low opinion of the Russian president, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the West to lift restrictions on the use of Western-supplied arms in the conflict.
Kirby Clarifies US Policy
White House National Security Communications Advisor Jake Kirby clarified that there had been no change to U.S. policy on allowing Kyiv to use long-range weapons to strike into Russia.
He noted that decisions on whether British or French leaders would permit Ukraine to use certain missiles containing U.S. components would be made by those sovereign countries.
France and Britain currently supply Ukraine with cruise missiles for use within its borders, but restrictions may change based on recent events.
Biden and Starmer met for a one-on-one discussion before a broader meeting with aides, where they reaffirmed their support for Ukraine and discussed various foreign policy issues.
They also addressed concerns about Iran and North Korea supplying arms to Russia and China, as well as the need for Israel to protect civilians and address humanitarian issues in Gaza.
The leaders condemned attacks by Iran-backed rebels in the Red Sea and discussed cooperation on clean energy, AUKUS, and other opportunities to strengthen ties.
Biden expressed support for the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and its role in maintaining peace in Northern Ireland.
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