Biden Allows Ukraine To Hit Russia With U.S.-Made Long-Range Missiles

President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use US-supplied long-range missiles to strike deeper inside Russia, lifting previous restrictions.

President Vladimir Putin has revised Russia's nuclear treaty in response to the Biden administration's greenlighting Ukraine's use of ATACMS for strikes deeper into Russia. I Photo: Lockheed Martin

The decision coincides with reports that Russia is deploying thousands of North Korean troops to bolster its war effort, Associated Press journalists Aamer Madhani, Colleen Long, Zeke Miller, and Ellen Knickmeyer reported.

The authorization permits Ukraine to utilize Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) for attacks beyond its borders, a move aimed at countering Russia’s aggression.

This comes as President Vladimir Putin positions North Korean forces near Ukraine’s northern border to reclaim lost territory. The decision also follows Donald Trump’s presidential election victory, which has raised questions about the future of US military support for Ukraine.

An unnamed US official and others familiar with the decision confirmed the news under conditions of anonymity.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered a measured response: "Strikes are not made with words," he said in his nightly video address. "Such things are not announced. The missiles will speak for themselves."

For months, Zelenskyy and Western allies had urged Biden to remove the ban, arguing that it limited Ukraine's ability to defend against attacks on its cities and critical infrastructure.