President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use long-range U.S.-provided missiles to strike targets inside Russia.
The decision, confirmed by anonymous senior officials, allows Ukraine to deploy these missiles across its border with Russia—a move that has stirred concerns about escalating the ongoing conflict.
The decision reportedly came in response to Russia’s recent escalation, which included deploying 11,000 North Korean troops to bolster its forces in Kursk. For months, the Biden administration had limited Ukraine’s missile usage to its own territories, even in contested areas like Russian-occupied Crimea. Biden’s reversal marks the first time Ukrainian forces are permitted to use U.S.-supplied missiles to target inside Russia.
According to U.S. officials, Biden’s authorization primarily covers the contested region of Kursk. Ukrainian forces have been engaged in heavy fighting there for months and are holding key strategic points despite Russia’s attempts to reclaim lost ground. While it remains unclear if the Biden administration will allow Ukraine to expand missile strikes beyond Kursk, officials have suggested Biden is willing to consider further permissions.
The weapons in question include the long-range Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which has a range of about 190 miles. ATACMS missiles are capable of reaching well into Russian territory, far beyond Ukraine’s current frontlines.
This capability could intensify the conflict, particularly as Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously warned that allowing Ukraine to strike inside Russia would equate to direct NATO involvement in the war. He has hinted that Moscow would consider it an act of war by the United States and its allies, with potential retaliation on Western targets.
While Biden administration officials remain cautious, they argue that the policy change was necessary to counter Russia’s increased reliance on foreign troops. President Biden, who is in his final months in office, was reportedly concerned that without missile strikes, Ukrainian forces could be overrun by Russian and North Korean troops.
Republican leaders and Trump allies have voiced concern over Biden’s choice, viewing it as a catalyst for further conflict.
Donald Trump Jr. remarked on social media that the Biden administration’s decision seemed intended to entrench the U.S. in conflict. Former intelligence chief Richard Grenell echoed this sentiment, arguing Biden’s decision is akin to “launching a whole new war.”
President-elect Donald Trump has criticized the decision, with his advisors hinting at a different approach to the conflict. Trump has expressed his desire to pursue peace negotiations, potentially including a demilitarized zone along current frontlines that would freeze combat positions and secure an 800-mile buffer zone.
Some advisors are suggesting that Ukraine agree to pause its NATO aspirations for 20 years, though critics see this concession as a capitulation to Russia.
In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the news of U.S. support by stating, “Strikes are not made with words,” and expressed hope for a resolution to the conflict by 2024. Zelenskyy, who has long advocated for the use of long-range weapons to combat Russia’s intensified assaults, now has Biden’s approval to proceed.
With Biden’s new authorization, the future of U.S. involvement in Ukraine is likely to become a defining issue in the coming months, especially as Trump signals a shift in policy with his upcoming administration.