President Joe Biden’s administration has approved Ukraine’s use of U.S.-supplied weapons to launch attacks deep into Russian territory, according to three sources familiar with the decision, as reported by Reuters. This marks a major shift in Washington’s stance on the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
The sources indicated that Ukraine is set to carry out its first long-range strikes in the coming days, though specifics were withheld due to operational security.
This policy shift comes just two months before President-elect Donald Trump is due to take office on January 20, following repeated requests from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for permission to target Russian military positions beyond Ukraine’s borders using U.S.-provided armaments.
The decision coincides with Russia’s deployment of North Korean ground troops to bolster its own military, a move that has raised significant concern in both Washington and Kyiv.
According to the sources, the initial long-range strikes will likely utilize ATACMS rockets, capable of reaching targets up to 190 miles (306 km) away.