The Biden administration has, for the first time, authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-made long-range weapons against Russia, The New York Times reported Sunday.
This significant policy shift comes after months of appeals from Kyiv and could greatly influence the course of the war. Moscow has repeatedly warned against enabling Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory, with President Vladimir Putin cautioning that such actions could effectively place NATO in direct conflict with Russia.
According to The New York Times, Ukraine is expected to deploy the Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to protect its forces against Russian and North Korean troops stationed in Russia’s Kursk region. This follows Ukraine’s cross-border incursion into the area in early August, where it has since maintained a presence. The decision by Washington reportedly responds to Russia’s recent deployment of North Korean troops to the region.
“One of the goals of the policy change,” the report noted, “is to send a clear signal to North Korea that their forces are vulnerable and discourage further troop deployments.”
Despite this development, U.S. officials told the Times they do not anticipate the new policy will drastically change the overall trajectory of the war. Previously, American officials had expressed concerns about depleting U.S. stockpiles of ATACMS and doubted their ability to impact Ukraine’s campaign significantly.
The move is also likely to prompt a reassessment among European allies. While France and Britain have supplied Ukraine with long-range missiles—Storm Shadow and SCALP, respectively—they have refrained from authorizing strikes within Russia without U.S. approval for ATACMS. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has similarly declined to provide Taurus missiles, citing fears of escalation if these long-range weapons are used to hit Russian targets.
Speaking in Argentina on Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron criticized Putin, stating that “it’s clear President Putin intends to intensify the fighting” and has no interest in pursuing peace. Meanwhile, during talks with Macron on Monday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed bolstering Ukraine’s position ahead of winter.
This policy shift comes as the Biden administration seeks to utilize the remaining $6 billion of approved Ukraine funding before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office on January 20. Trump and his allies have consistently criticized U.S. support for Ukraine, with figures like Mike Waltz, Trump’s pick for National Security Advisor, calling further funding “insanity.” Trump Jr. has also mocked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, recently posting on Instagram that Ukraine is “weeks away from losing its allowance.”
Meanwhile, Russia launched a massive assault on Ukraine on Sunday, killing 11 civilians across several regions and further damaging the country’s fragile energy infrastructure. Nationwide emergency power restrictions are set to begin Monday as Ukraine braces for a harsh winter, according to the state grid operator.
