The USA is allowing Ukraine to use American weapons against Russian forces on the Russian side of the border to an increasing extent, according to American media reports.
Earlier in the week, Jake Sullivan, the White House's national security adviser, stated that the weapons may be used "wherever Russian forces cross the Russian border into Ukrainian territory in an attempt to take further Ukrainian territory".
This stance was confirmed on Thursday by Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder. However, he stressed that the USA has not made any shift in position on the issue.
In a situation where Russian forces are firing across the border, Ukraine's ability to strike back with US ammunition is a matter of self-defence, and therefore it is logical for them to be able to do so, Ryder said at a press conference.
Previously, the USA has stated that Ukraine has permission to use American weapons against Russian forces attacking the Kharkiv region in north-eastern Ukraine.