Biden Approves Use of Long-Range Missiles by Ukraine to Target Russia

President Joe Biden has approved a significant policy shift, allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles supplied by the U.S. to strike targets in Russia, according to officials. This decision marks a departure from Washington's previous stance, which had denied Kyiv authorization to use the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) beyond its own borders. The ATACMS has a range of approximately 300 kilometers (190 miles).

The timing of this decision is notable, as it comes just two months before Biden is set to hand over power to Donald Trump, raising concerns about the future of U.S. support for Ukraine following the election. Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet commented on the development, but he has previously warned Western nations that such actions would signify "direct participation" of the NATO military alliance in the ongoing conflict.