In a significant policy shift, President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to deploy long-range missiles against Russian targets. This decision, confirmed by a U.S. official, marks a pivotal moment in U.S. support for Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has long advocated for the use of ATACMS missiles, noted that “missiles speak for themselves,” underscoring the strategic impact of this development.
The Kremlin has previously warned that such actions could imply NATO’s direct involvement in the conflict. While Russian President Vladimir Putin has yet to respond, senior Kremlin figures have labeled the move a serious escalation.
The Biden administration’s approval is framed as a defensive measure for Ukrainian forces operating in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukraine launched an unexpected incursion in August.
This decision signals U.S. backing for Ukraine’s efforts to maintain control over captured Russian territory, potentially strengthening Kyiv’s position in future negotiations.
Serhiy Kuzan of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre emphasized the importance of the decision, noting it would bolster Ukrainian forces without altering the war’s overall trajectory.
ATACMS missiles, with a range of up to 300km, were approved following Russia’s controversial enlistment of North Korean soldiers in the conflict. Ukraine estimates 11,000 North Korean troops are in Kursk, as tensions escalate with an anticipated Russian-Korean offensive.
This move may also open the door for Britain and France to allow Ukraine to use long-range Storm Shadow missiles, though neither country has yet commented.
Ukraine recently used U.S. long-range missiles to target Russian positions in the east, as intense battles continue in the Donetsk region, a critical supply area for Ukrainian forces.
Amidst these developments, Russia has ramped up drone strikes, launching over 2,000 in October alone. A massive assault on Saturday resulted in at least 10 Ukrainian casualties, with further attacks reported on Sunday.
Ukrainian officials have long criticized insufficient support from allies, and Biden, nearing the end of his presidency, is accelerating aid efforts. Concerns loom over potential changes in U.S. policy with Donald Trump’s possible return, as he has criticized military support as burdensome.
The U.S. remains Ukraine’s largest arms supplier, with commitments totaling $55.5 billion since the war’s onset, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
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