Biden administration doesn’t confirm new missile authorization for Ukraine but does blame Russia for ‘lighting the fire’

The Biden administration evaded questions on Monday about the president’s reported decision to permit Kyiv to use U.S.-supplied long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia. In a press briefing, Deputy National Security Adviser Jonathan Finer told ABC News, “I’m not confirming any decisions that have or have not been made about U.S. assistance when it comes to these operational questions.” 

Referring to comments earlier in the day by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov about Biden’s reported decision “adding fuel to the fire,” Finer said “the fire was lit by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.” BBC News reported that the U.S. official added that Washington had made it clear to Moscow that it would “respond” if Russia deployed North Korean troops onto the battlefield.