Media: Biden allowed Ukraine to hit Russia with American long-range missiles

US President Joe Biden’s administration has lifted restrictions that blocked Ukraine’s use of US-supplied weapons for strikes deep into Russian territory, US media write. In particular, this was reported by three Reuters sources familiar with the situation, calling it a significant change in US policy in the war between Ukraine and Russia. The information is also confirmed by the sources of The New York Times.

According to reports, Ukraine plans to carry out the first long-range strikes in the coming days, although the details of the operation are not being disclosed for security reasons. ATACMS missiles with a range of up to 306 kilometers are expected to be used for strikes.

The White House has not yet commented on the situation and has not yet responded to Radio Liberty’s request for comment.

The publications indicate that the decision of the Biden administration, adopted after several months of requests from the Ukrainian side, appeared two months before the inauguration of the newly elected US President Donald Trump, who promised to limit further support to Ukraine.

According to officials quoted by the media, Ukraine’s permission to use long-range missiles was a response to Russia’s decision to use North Korean troops in the war.

It remains to be seen whether Trump will reverse Biden’s decision when he takes office. Trump has long criticized the scale of US financial and military aid to Ukraine and promised to quickly end the war between Russia and Ukraine, without explaining exactly how.

At the same time, some Republicans in Congress called on Biden to relax the rules regarding Ukraine’s use of weapons provided by the United States.

There was no immediate comment from Trump’s transition team, but a key adviser criticized the move in a post on X. “Escalating wars before he leaves office,” wrote Richard Grenell.

Russia has warned that it will take the move to ease restrictions on Ukraine’s use of US weapons as a serious escalation.

The possibility of Ukraine using long-range weapons supplied from the West has divided Kyiv’s allies, some of whom have expressed concern that it could provoke a Russian counter-response and lead to a wider European war.

Biden himself has previously been reluctant to authorize such actions, although the White House in May approved the use of ATACMS for limited strikes directly across the Russian border to deter Russian strikes against Ukraine.

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