President Biden Authorises Ukraine To Use Long-Range U.S. Weapons In Russia
The missiles are expected to be used in response to North Korea’s decision to deploy thousands of troops to Russia to aid President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
For the first time, President Joe Biden has reportedly authorised the use of U.S.-supplied long-range missiles by Ukraine to strike inside Russia.
According to one U.S. official and three people familiar with the matter, the decision represents a significant shift in U.S. policy as Biden prepares to leave office, with President-elect Donald Trump pledging to swiftly end the war and expressing scepticism about continued U.S. support, The Associated Press reports.
The missiles are expected to be used in response to North Korea’s decision to deploy thousands of troops to Russia to aid President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
“As many as 12,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia,” according to U.S., South Korean, and Ukrainian assessments.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had long pressed Biden to lift restrictions on targeting Russia, arguing that the U.S. ban hindered Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.
Critics argued such constraints risked costing Ukraine the war.
Biden had resisted the move, fearing escalation that could drag NATO into direct conflict with Russia.
However, the North Korean troop deployment, combined with a shift in momentum favouring Moscow, influenced his decision.
Meanwhile, Trump, who assumes office in January, has hinted at pushing Ukraine to cede territory to Russia in pursuit of peace.
His stance has alarmed Ukraine’s allies, who fear such a settlement could largely benefit Putin.
North Korea has also supplied Russia with significant munitions to replenish its dwindling stockpiles, according to U.S. and South Korean intelligence officials.
