US President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use US long-range missiles against military targets inside Russia, a US official told AFP on condition of anonymity, media reports confirmed.
The New York Times and The Washington Post, citing unnamed sources, said the major policy change long sought by Ukraine was in response to North Korea deploying troops to aid Moscow’s war effort.
A US official who spoke to AFP confirmed the reports were accurate.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly called for Washington’s permission to use the Army’s powerful tactical missile system, initially known as ATACMS, to hit targets inside Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that this green light would mean that NATO is “at war” with Russia – a threat he made earlier, when Ukraine’s backers increased military aid to Kiev.
The outgoing Biden administration’s shift in stance was prompted by the arrival of North Korean troops in Russia, which Western intelligence reports suggest are being deployed at around 10,000, according to newspapers.
US officials had previously said they believed the ATACMS missiles would make a limited difference in the Ukraine campaign and also wanted to ensure Washington’s stockpile of munitions did not run out.
America’s change will have greater repercussions and may lead European allies to reconsider their positions.
The United States and Great Britain have supplied Ukraine with ATACMS and Storm Shadow long-range missiles, respectively.
Germany has refused to supply Ukraine with Taurus missiles for fear that they could hit Russian territory at a range of more than 500 kilometers (310 miles).
Biden’s decision comes as he prepares to hand over power to President-elect Donald Trump, who has promised to end the conflict in negotiations expected to force Ukraine to cede territory.
