US lifts key restriction on Ukraine striking deep inside Russia with Western missiles – WSJ
Photo: Donald Trump, US president (Getty Images)
The administration of US President Donald Trump has lifted a key restriction that had limited Ukraine’s use of Western long-range missiles for strikes on Russian territory, The Wall Street Journal reports.
The outlet, citing US officials, reports that this decision allows Ukraine to strike enemy military targets deep inside Russia.
In particular, Kyiv can use British Storm Shadow missiles, which have a range of over 180 miles (nearly 300 km). The Ukrainian Armed Forces used this missile to strike a Russian plant in Bryansk.
The decision was made after control over approving such operations was transferred from the US Secretary of Defense to the command of American forces in Europe.
"As it has shown, Ukraine is incredibly capable itself of striking deep inside Russia at legitimate military targets. It does not need our permission," said NATO official Colonel Martin O’Donnell.
At the same time, the US has not confirmed whether it plans to provide Ukraine with American Tomahawk missiles, which can hit targets at distances of up to 1,600 kilometers.
The Czech volunteer initiative Darek pro Putina (Gift for Putin) is raising funds to purchase a Ukrainian ballistic missile, the Flamingo, with an estimated cost of nearly $600,000.
In addition, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Russians fear not so much the Tomahawk missiles themselves, but how Ukraine will be able to combine them with other weaponry.
He noted that even the mere mention of the possibility of providing these missiles causes panic in the Kremlin.
