President Biden has given Ukraine permission to deploy US-supplied longe-range missiles to attack targets in Russian territory just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
Ukraine said it plans to take advantage of the policy change within days.
The dramatic shift in policy comes as Ukraine has faced setbacks on the battlefield. Trump had pledged that he will end the war once he takes office in January.
The move by the United States two months before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20 follows months of requests by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to allow Ukraine’s military to use US weapons to hit Russian military targets far from its border.
The change follows Russia’s deployment of North Korean ground troops to supplement its own forces, a development that has caused alarm in Washington and Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has long begged for permission to strike Russian military infrastructre that is nestled deep in Russuan territory.
But Biden’s team was reportedly divided over whether to give the approval for the use of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) against targets inside Russia.
Some in his orbit said that the move would be provocative and could lead to a dramatic escalation from Russia as well as retaliation against the US. There were also concerns about limited US supplies of ATACMS.
Looming over the decision was the Kremlin’s decision to deploy North Korean troops into the bloody war, which presents significant dangers for Ukraine, the New York Times reported.
Biden, 81, has slowly been relaxing restrictions on Ukraine’s ability to strike targets on Russian soil with US-supplied military hardware.
Previously, the president allowed Kyiv to use American High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) to hit Moscow’s forces across the border. HIMARS have a range of roughly 50 miles, while ATACMS can strike targets about 190 miles away.
Ukraine mounted an offensive into the southern Russian region of Kursk back in August, which appeared to catch the Kremlin off-guard. North Korean troops have been mobilizing there in a bid to help Russia repel the Ukrainians. In total, an estimated 50,000 Russian and North Korean troops have reportedly assembled near Kursk.
The British and French have marshaled Storm Shadow cruise missiles to the Ukrainians, which have a reach of about 155 miles.
Russia has pummeled Ukraine, unleashing 90 drones and 12 missiles Sunday, aiming to knock critical power infrastructure offline, according to Zelensky. Ukraine has also faced difficulties securing enough weaponry and troops to sustain its efforts to fend off Russian invaders.
Many European leaders have feared that Russia has been gaining ground in the conflict, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Trump, 78, has vowed to push for an end to the war. Following his 2024 election victory, he had calls with both Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The 45th and soon-to-be 47th president has been tight-lipped about his specific plans to end the war.
He is rumored to tap a Ukraine peace envoy soon.
During a radio interview Friday, Zelensky surmised that the conflict “will end faster with the policy of this team that will now lead the White House.”
“This is their approach, their promise to their society, and it is also very important to them,” he continued. “We must do everything to ensure that the war ends next year through diplomatic means.”
The Post has contacted both the White House and Pentagon for comment.
