Biden Meets Starmer As Putin Warns Of 'Significant Change' In Conflict

Ahead of the meeting today between US President Joe Biden and UK PM Sir Keir Starmer at the White House, focus is on the prospect of assent (or at least an indication of assent) being given to Ukraine to use long-range missiles made in the West to target sites in the Russian Federation as part of Kyiv's efforts to repel the invasion.

• Speaking on 12 Sep, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, when questioned on the prospect by reporters, that "This would in a significant way change the very nature of the conflict...It would mean that NATO countries, the U.S., European countries, are at war with Russia...If that's the case, then taking into account the change of nature of the conflict, we will take the appropriate decisions based on the threats that we will face."
• The continued increase in Western support for Ukraine; from battle tanks to long-range weapons, to F-16 jets, has seen the Kremlin say on numerous occasions that this means NATO is 'at war' with Russia. However, this has not translated into direct retaliation.
• With Putin's 'red lines' unclear, it remains to be seen whether such a move results in more rhetoric, a low-level response such as cyber-attacks or efforts to disrupt air traffic or high-level escalatory action such as the detonation of a tactical nuclear warhead in Ukraine or a strike on weapons depots on NATO territory.
• Biden to meet with Starmer in the Oval Office ~1600ET (2100BST). VP and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris will not be in attendance, instead campaigning in the swing state of Pennsylvania.