By Mike Stone and Humira Pamuk
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Joe Biden’s administration has authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-made weapons to strike deep into Russia, two U.S. officials and a source familiar with the decision said on Sunday. The conflict marked a significant reversal of Washington’s policy
Ukraine plans to launch its first long-range strikes in the coming days, the sources said, without disclosing details due to operational security concerns.
The move comes two months before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20 and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has ordered the Ukrainian military to use US weapons to target Russian military targets across its border. The permission has been granted after months of requests.
The change comes largely in response to Russia’s deployment of ground troops to North Korea to augment its forces, a development that has alarmed Washington and Kiev, a US official said. And a source familiar with the decision said.
The White House and the State Department declined to comment. Ukraine’s foreign ministry and the president’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Russia has warned that it will see a move by Ukraine to ease restrictions on the use of US weapons as a major escalation.
According to sources, Ukraine’s first deep strikes are likely to be carried out by ATACMS rockets, which have a range of up to 190 miles (306 km).
Although some U.S. officials have expressed skepticism that allowing long-range strikes will change the overall trajectory of the war, the decision could help Ukraine at a time when Russian forces are making gains and potentially But it could put Kiev in a better negotiating position when and if a ceasefire is negotiated.
It is unclear whether Trump will reverse Biden’s decision after taking office. Trump has long criticized the scale of US financial and military aid to Ukraine and vowed to end the war quickly, without saying how.
A spokesman for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But Richard Grenell, one of Trump’s closest foreign policy advisers, criticized the decision.
“He’s escalating wars before he leaves office,” Grenell said in an X-Post responding to the news.
Some congressional Republicans have urged Biden to loosen rules on how Ukraine can use US-supplied weapons.
Since Trump’s Nov. 5 victory, senior Biden administration officials have repeatedly said they will use the remaining time to ensure Ukraine can effectively fight next year or from a “position of strength” with Russia. Can negotiate peace.
‘It’s too late’
The United States believes that more than 10,000 North Korean troops have been sent to eastern Russia, and most of them have moved to the Kursk region and have begun to take part in hostilities.
Russia is advancing at its fastest pace since 2022 despite suffering heavy losses, and Ukraine said it had clashed with some of the North Korean troops stationed in Kursk.
Due to personnel shortages, Ukrainian forces have lost some of the ground they gained during the August incursion into Kursk, which Zelensky said could act as a bargaining chip.
“Lifting the targeting restrictions will allow Ukrainians to stop fighting with one hand tied behind their back,” said Alex Plutsas, senior non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council.
“However, as with everything, I’m sure history will say that the decision came too late. Just like ATACMS, HIMARS, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, Abrams Tanks and the F-16. They were all needed too soon,” He added.
Despite Zelensky’s pleas, the White House was reluctant to allow US-supplied weapons to be used to strike targets deep inside Russia for fear of escalating the conflict.
Kiev’s other allies are providing weapons but there are restrictions on how and when they can be used inside Russia, out of concern that such attacks could trigger retaliation that could push NATO countries to war. could lead to nuclear conflict.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski also described the move as a response to North Korea’s interference.
“President Biden responded to North Korea’s entry into the war and Russia’s massive missile strike in language that V. Putin understands — by lifting sanctions on Ukraine’s use of Western missiles,” Sikorsky said on X. .
