President Biden insisted Thursday that Ukraine is not authorized to strike Moscow with American-made weapons after Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the U.S. of direct participation in the war.

Mr. Biden, speaking to ABC News, said Ukrainian forces can use American weapons to hit Russian-occupied Kharkiv and limited targets on Russian soil that relate to Mr. Putin’s invasion.

“They’re authorized to be used in proximity to the border when they’re being used on the other side of the border to attack specific targets in Ukraine,” Mr. Biden told anchor David Muir in Normandy, France. “We’re not authorizing strikes 200 miles into Russia and we’re not authorizing strikes on Moscow, on the Kremlin.”

Mr. Putin recently said America’s decision to supply high-precision weapons that can be used for strikes on Russia amounts to direct participation in the conflict.

“Does that concern you?” Mr. Muir asked Mr. Biden in an excerpt from the sit-down interview.

“I’ve known him for over 40 years. He’s concerned me for 40 years. He’s not a decent man,” Mr. Biden said. “He’s a dictator, and he’s struggling to make sure he holds his country together while still keeping this assault going.”

• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.