Donald Trump has authorized Ukraine to deploy specific long-range missiles provided by Western allies following the cancellation of a scheduled meeting with Vladimir Putin. The lifting of a significant restriction now permits Kyiv to target deep inside Russia and exert pressure on the Kremlin, as confirmed by US officials on Wednesday.
Recently, Ukraine utilized British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles in an attack on a chemical plant in Russia’s Bryansk region. The strike, described as successful by Ukraine’s General Staff of Armed Forces on social media, targeted a facility producing gunpowder, explosives, and components for ammunition and missiles used against Ukraine.
The decision to allow such attacks was transferred unexpectedly from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to General Alexus Grynkewich, the top US general in Europe and NATO commander, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. This development coincided with European leaders, including PM Keir Starmer, pledging to escalate economic and defense industry pressure on Russia until Putin is willing to negotiate peace.
The missile strike occurred after the collapse of planned discussions between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Budapest. Trump had been advocating for talks to end the conflict with Putin, whom he last met in August in Alaska. While Trump had previously hinted at supplying Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, a proposal he has since retracted due to concerns over potential escalation and Moscow’s warnings of direct involvement by the US in the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had been urging Trump for increased military support, particularly requesting US-made Tomahawk missiles with a range of 1,550 miles. However, Trump’s current stance veers away from providing Tomahawks to Ukraine, with apprehensions about provoking Moscow. The Storm Shadow missile, a joint British-French creation, can be launched from Ukrainian aircraft and covers a distance of over 180 miles, with US control over its usage due to reliance on American targeting data.