Biden commented on Putin's words

US President Joe Biden commented on the warning of Russian leader Vladimir Putin about the consequences of lifting the ban on strikes by Ukraine with Western weapons against Russia, noting that he "does not think much" about the Russian president.

"I don't think much about Vladimir Putin," the American leader said, answering a question from journalists about the warning of the Russian president.

Putin said the day before that the use of long-range Western weapons to attack Russia "will mean that NATO countries, the United States, European countries are at war with Russia." According to him, Kiev is not capable of delivering such strikes on its own: they are possible only when using data from NATO satellites, which it does not have. In addition, only military personnel of the unit can submit flight assignments, the head of state stressed.

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov called Putin's statement "extremely clear, unambiguous." According to him, it "does not allow any double readings."

"And we have no doubt that this statement has reached its addressees," Peskov stressed.

The coordinator of strategic communications of the White House National Security Council, John Kirby, said earlier that the United States takes the words of the Russian leader seriously. He clarified that Washington has not changed its approach to restrictions on the use of American weapons by Kiev. At the same time, Kirby stressed that the United States is acting on the basis of "its calculations."

Vladimir Zelensky has repeatedly asked Western partners to allow strikes with precision missiles supplied to Ukraine deep into Russian territory, explaining this by military necessity. Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said in early September that the vast majority of Russian combat aircraft are now at airfields about 300 km from the territory controlled by Ukraine, which makes them "inaccessible" to long-range missiles.

Nevertheless, on September 10, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced negotiations on Ukraine's use of long-range Western weapons to strike deep into Russia. A day later, sources told The Guardian that Britain would allow Ukraine to strike Russia with Storm Shadow missiles. The Times reported that the use of these missiles will soon be approved by Biden, reminds RBC.