President Biden Says Lifting Ban On The Use Of Long-Range Weapons Against Central Russia Is Efforted

President Biden received President Zelensky on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington DC. (Twitter/@ZelenskyyUa)

JAKARTA - The President of the United States has not covered up the possibility of lifting the ban on the use of long-range weapons by Ukraine to attack Russia.

President Biden said on Tuesday his administration was "in the bid for it", when asked if Washington would lift restrictions on the use of long-range weapons by Ukraine in its war against Russia.

The US is known to be reluctant to supply or approve the use of weapons that could strike targets deep within Russia's territory, fearing it would increase the conflict.

Other Kyiv allies have supplied weapons, but with restrictions on how and when the weapons can be used within Russia, fearing such attacks could trigger retaliation that attracts NATO countries (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) into war or provokes nuclear conflict.

Earlier, sources told Reuters last week the White House was close to reaching an agreement to deliver the weapons to Ukraine, but Kyiv had to wait months as the US was finalizing technical issues before deliveries.

Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky again expressed his hope that the restrictions would be lifted, in order to force Russia to make peace.

It was conveyed at the Ramstein Contact Group meeting, an official ally meeting that provided support for Ukraine, which was held at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

"We need to have this long-range capability not only in occupied Ukrainian territory, but also in Russian territory, yes, so Russia is motivated to seek peace," President Zelensky said.