Biden brushes off Putin/ Biden Putin war threats/ Biden Putin Ukraine/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ President Biden dismissed Vladimir Putin’s warnings about the West supplying long-range weapons to Ukraine during a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Despite Russia’s threats of escalating the conflict, Biden reiterated support for Ukraine, while both leaders discussed the potential shift in military aid. Kyiv continues to push for expanded use of Western weaponry inside Russia.
Biden and Starmer Discuss Ukraine: Quick Looks
- Putin’s Threats: Russian leader Putin warned the U.S. and NATO against providing Ukraine with long-range weapons.
- Biden’s Response: Biden downplayed Putin’s remarks, reiterating that Russia would not win the war.
- UK’s Role: Prime Minister Starmer may seek U.S. approval to allow Ukraine to use British-made Storm Shadow missiles.
- Ukraine’s Request: Ukrainian President Zelenskyy urges the West to lift restrictions on weapons for deeper strikes inside Russia.
- Ongoing Concerns: U.S. and European leaders weigh the risks of escalation versus the need to support Ukraine’s defense.
Biden Shrugs Off Putin’s Threats, Meets with UK’s Starmer on Ukraine Aid
Deep Look
President Joe Biden largely brushed aside recent threats from Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the potential for escalation if Western countries grant Ukraine the use of long-range weapons that could reach deeper into Russian territory. Speaking ahead of a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Washington, Biden expressed confidence that Russia would not prevail in its war against Ukraine, despite Putin’s warnings. The ongoing debate about providing Kyiv with expanded military support, particularly weapons that could strike targets farther inside Russia, was a key focus of their discussions.
Putin’s latest threat came after Ukraine and some of its Western backers, including the U.S. and the UK, continued to evaluate requests for long-range missiles and other advanced weaponry that could help shift the momentum in the war. Putin claimed that such weapons would effectively place NATO in direct conflict with Russia, a stance Moscow has repeatedly taken as tensions rise. However, the Russian leader’s warning did not appear to deter either Biden or Starmer from considering further military support for Ukraine.
When asked about Putin’s comments, Biden downplayed the threat, remarking, “I don’t think much about Vladimir Putin.” Biden’s dismissal came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continued to press for expanded use of Western weapons, arguing that the only way to force Russia to negotiate is by making the war harder for Moscow to sustain. Zelenskyy has argued that long-range strikes deep inside Russia would disrupt the Russian military’s logistics and weaken its capacity to continue attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.
One of the key weapons in question is the British-made Storm Shadow missile, which has components sourced from the U.S. According to American officials, Prime Minister Starmer was expected to push for U.S. approval to allow Ukraine to use these missiles for broader strikes inside Russian territory. Although U.S. consent is technically required due to the missile’s American-made parts, sources familiar with the discussions said Biden might be open to granting this approval, though no announcement on the issue was expected immediately.
So far, the Biden administration has cautiously granted Ukraine access to a variety of advanced weapon systems, including tanks, missile launchers, and F-16 fighter jets, but always with restrictions on their use to avoid striking deep inside Russian territory. Despite initial concerns, past decisions to send these weapons did not lead to the feared escalation from Moscow. Now, as Russia continues to intensify its bombardment of Ukraine’s power grid and critical infrastructure ahead of the winter months, there is growing pressure on the Biden administration to allow Ukraine greater freedom in its military strategy.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has reiterated that the decision to send more advanced weaponry to Ukraine is complex, warning that there is no single solution to the challenges Ukraine faces on the battlefield. Despite these hesitations, some American military experts and lawmakers have argued that U.S. restrictions are preventing Ukraine from gaining the upper hand in the war.
Meanwhile, Putin’s rhetoric remains consistent. On Thursday, he warned that allowing long-range strikes would bring NATO into a full-scale war with Russia. Yet many in U.S. and European diplomatic and security circles see these threats as part of Russia’s broader strategy to deter the West from further arming Ukraine. Thus far, NATO allies have been gradually ramping up their military support, despite Russia’s efforts to intimidate them into backing down.
Ukraine’s leadership has been clear in its demands. Zelenskyy, addressing his supporters on social media, called for more direct action, stating, “The war must become more difficult for Russia — that is the only way to make them realize it must end.” His sentiment has found sympathy among some in the U.S. military and political circles, with several former generals and security analysts pointing out that Russia’s earlier threats over arms shipments proved empty. They argue that without more powerful weaponry, Ukraine will struggle to break through Russian defenses and gain critical battlefield momentum.
Biden has hinted at a possible shift in policy, stating earlier in the week that the administration is “working out” decisions regarding further weapons shipments to Ukraine. However, Pentagon officials have voiced concerns that supplying Ukraine with certain long-range systems, such as the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), may not be practical given the limited stock of such weapons and their inability to address key Russian threats from a distance beyond their range.
In the meeting with Starmer, the two leaders were also expected to discuss other global security challenges, including the ongoing situation in Gaza and rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. Both Biden and Starmer have emphasized the importance of maintaining a united front against Russian aggression, while also dealing with multiple other global crises.
On a related front, the White House has highlighted how Russia’s partnership with Iran continues to pose a significant threat to European security. U.S. officials revealed this week that Iran had recently supplied Russia with short-range ballistic missiles to use in Ukraine, further solidifying a dangerous alliance. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby described the arms transfer as a clear sign that Iran’s destabilizing influence is spreading beyond the Middle East, now affecting European and global security.
As both Biden and Starmer prepare for further talks with global leaders at the U.N. General Assembly later this month, the war in Ukraine remains at the top of their agenda. The ongoing debate over military support reflects the difficult balancing act Western leaders face in helping Ukraine resist Russian aggression without triggering a broader conflict.
