President Joe Biden authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied long-range missiles inside Russia for the first time Sunday, according to multiple reports—an escalation of U.S. involvement in the conflict in response to North Korean troops being sent to aid Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (L) and U.S. President Joe Biden (R) meet at the Oval Office ... [+]
Biden signed off on the use of the Army Tactical Missile System, which has a range of about 190 miles, as Russia is planning a large-scale attack in the Kursk region of western Russia in hopes of reclaiming the territory Ukraine seized there in August, according to The Washington Post.
The missiles are initially expected to be deployed to help Ukraine fight off Russian forces in Kursk, but Biden could eventually authorize their use outside of the region, The New York Times reported, citing U.S. officials.
Biden was reportedly compelled to sign off on the use of the weapons inside of Russia, which he previously resisted, after more than 10,000 North Korean troops arrived in the Kursk region in October.
U.S. officials expect the missiles won’t change the course of the war, but could lessen the impact of Russia’s planned assault in Kursk and send a message to North Korea not to send more troops, The Times reported.
Ukraine first began using U.S.-supplied ATACMS against Russian forces occupying territory in Ukraine in October, but Ukraine was prohibited from using the missiles on targets inside of Russia, The Times reported at the time.
Russia launched its largest attack in months on Ukraine Saturday night into Sunday, using drones and missiles to target Ukraine’s power grid in Kyiv and several other cities. At least five people were killed in the assault, ABC News reported, citing Ukrainian authorities.
The decision comes as Biden is set to leave office in less than a month, and President-elect Donald Trump is expected to scale back U.S. aid to Ukraine. Trump has said repeatedly he could end the war immediately after taking office without explaining how, though Sen. JD Vance has said it would entail Russia keeping territory it’s seized from Ukraine. Ukraine hopes it can trade the territory it’s seized in Kursk for Ukrainian land occupied by Russia, an option that could be eliminated if Russia reclaims the Kursk region, the Times notes.
Biden Allows Ukraine to Strike Russia With Long-Range U.S. Missiles (The New York Times)
Biden approves Ukraine’s use of long-range U.S. weapons inside Russia, reversing policy (The Washington Post)
Russia launches 'massive' nationwide missile attack targeting Ukraine's energy grid (ABC News)