During a shift in US policy, President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use US-supplied long-range missiles to strike inside Russia, marking a major escalation in the ongoing conflict.
This decision comes in response to North Korea’s deployment of approximately 12,000 troops to Russia, aiming to support President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had long urged Biden to lift restrictions on targeting Russia, arguing that the US ban hindered Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.
Critics warned that these constraints risked costing Ukraine the war.
However, Biden had initially resisted, fearing escalation that could drag NATO into direct conflict with Russia.
The North Korean troop deployment, combined with a shift in momentum favoring Moscow, ultimately influenced Biden’s decision.
This move is also set against the backdrop of President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to swiftly end the war and his skepticism about continued US support.
Trump’s stance has alarmed Ukraine’s allies, who fear that pushing Ukraine to cede territory to Russia could largely benefit Putin.
Furthermore, North Korea has supplied Russia with significant munitions to replenish its dwindling stockpiles, according to US and South Korean intelligence officials.
