Pentagon Restricts Ukraine’s Long-Range Strikes in Russia Using US Missiles: What It Means for the Conflict

The U.S. has put in place a process that lets Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth decide if Ukraine can use American missiles for long-range strikes inside Russia. This move has been keeping these attacks off the table for months.

According to reports from the Wall Street Journal, this review process began affecting Ukraine’s use of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) since late spring. An anonymous official mentioned that this means Ukraine has not been able to target locations in Russia for quite some time now.

Former President Donald Trump recently expressed concern about Ukraine’s chances of winning the war if they can only defend and cannot attack. He criticized President Joe Biden for what he sees as limits on Ukraine’s military actions. Interestingly, Trump had earlier disagreed strongly with the Biden administration’s approval of Ukrainian strikes using U.S. weapons.

The Pentagon has introduced this review process alongside a rating system for assessing the availability of different weapons. Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s policy undersecretary, designed this system. It categorizes weapon availability into red, yellow, and green, helping determine what Ukraine can receive.

This review also applies to British long-range Storm Shadow missiles, as they depend on U.S. targeting intelligence. Reports indicate that there have been at least a few instances where Ukraine planned to use ATACMS against Russian targets but was denied.

Ukraine’s previous shipment of ATACMS came from the prior U.S. administration last spring. Despite Trump’s recent remarks about needing to attack, U.S. officials say there are no changes in policy just yet.

There are talks about Ukraine purchasing $90 billion worth of weapons from the U.S. This plan seeks to secure long-term support from the U.S. and may involve funding from Ukraine’s European allies.

In the context of military support, Poland, once a major backer of Ukraine, has appeared less involved in recent peace talks. Analysts note that Poland has contributed heavily—around €4.5 billion ($5.2 billion) since 2022—but has been facing challenges in maintaining its influence, primarily due to dwindling military resources.

The evolving dynamics between the U.S. and Ukraine raise questions about future strategies. Experts emphasize that strong collaboration and consistent support are crucial for Ukraine’s survival and success.

For more in-depth analysis, you can check out the Wall Street Journal’s coverage here.

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