WASHINGTON— President Biden has for the first time authorized Ukrainian forces to use Western-made long-range weapons to strike inside Russia, allowing Kyiv to better defend itself against Russia , according to U.S. officials. The relaxation of Ukraine’s use of the Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, comes after Kyiv pleaded for months to be allowed to strike inside Russia. The restrictions gave Moscow the upper hand in the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his top aides said publicly and privately. But Biden administration officials were loath to greenlight the strikes until now for fear it could cross a red line for Russia and provoke a wider conflict. The policy shift appears to be part of a Biden administration push to give what it can to Ukraine before Jan. 20.

Source: Wall Street Journal November 18, 2024 00:51 UTC