The United States, along with key allies such as the United Kingdom and France, is reportedly considering a significant shift in its military support for Ukraine. The Biden administration, according to sources, is actively discussing whether to allow Ukraine to use Western-supplied missiles to strike deep within Russian territory. This would mark a departure from the current policy, which has restricted Ukraine from such actions to avoid potential Russian retaliation. President Joe Biden confirmed on Tuesday that his administration is “working on it” as speculation grows around the U.K.’s potential decision to greenlight the use of its Storm Shadow missiles in Russian territory, pending U.S. approval.
The decision could have far-reaching consequences for the ongoing conflict, although it might not be decisive. Allowing Ukraine to target Russian military assets further away from the border could shift the dynamics on the battlefield. U.S. media report that two key decisions may soon be made: allowing Ukraine to strike deep into Russia, and permitting these strikes with American missile systems. While no civilian targets would be approved, the move could significantly enhance Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
Since May, Ukraine has been permitted to use Western weapons against Russian forces, but only near its borders to prevent Russian artillery from positioning too close. Expanding the range of Ukrainian strikes has been a recurring theme throughout the war, with Western hesitation following each of Ukraine’s requests for more advanced weapons systems. From the medium-range HIMARS to long-range ATACMS missiles, the pattern has been clear: Ukraine asks, and the West hesitates before eventually agreeing.
Russia has consistently warned of severe consequences if Western powers allow Ukraine to expand its military operations inside Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently stated that if the West enables such strikes, it would essentially be at war with Russia, prompting “appropriate decisions” in response. Despite these threats, previous escalations—such as Ukraine’s use of Western weapons in the Kursk region—have not triggered significant Russian retaliation, leading some analysts to believe Moscow’s warnings may be more rhetoric than reality.
Ukraine argues that the ability to strike deep into Russia would help protect its territory from relentless Russian bombardments, which have indiscriminately targeted both military and civilian infrastructure. Ukrainian forces have already used drones to carry out limited strikes on Russian soil, but Western long-range missiles like ATACMS and Storm Shadow could dramatically increase their impact. While some skepticism remains about the overall effectiveness of these weapons, given that Russia has begun relocating military assets beyond their range, many believe they could still hit valuable targets. Experts warn, however, that Ukraine’s stockpile of such missiles may be insufficient for sustained operations.
