In a significant turn of events in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, United States president Joe Biden has given Ukraine the permission to use the American-made weapons to strike targets inside Russia, the New York Times has reported.

According to the Times citing a senior American official on Thursday, Washington gave Ukraine the go ahead to strike military targets inside Russia with American-made weapons in order to reduce the Russian military capability following recent attacks in Ukraine’s second largest city of Kharkiv.

Mr Biden’s administration and the Ukrainian government had been in discussions in the past few weeks to be able to carry out direct attacks inside Russia because the United States had prevented such action since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 in order to avoid direct confrontation with Moscow.

Russia has repeatedly warned to respond appropriately if Ukraine is allowed to use weapons supplied by the United States and its western allies to carry out attacks inside the country. Moscow is yet to respond to the latest move by Washington.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to Moldova on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said the United States would “adapt and adjust” to battlefield conditions when asked if Russia would allow American-made weapons to strike inside Russia.