The Pentagon has been quietly blocking Ukraine from using US-made long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to strike targets inside Russia.
The decision limits how Kyiv can use these weapons in its defence against Moscow’s invasion, according to the Wall Street Journal, which cited US officials.
ATACMS are powerful weapons that can strike targets hundreds of miles away. While the United States has supplied Ukraine with several advanced weapons, officials have placed strict conditions on how and where they can be used. For now, Ukraine cannot use these missiles to attack deep inside Russian territory.
Russia-Ukraine Tension
This decision comes at a time when US President Donald Trump has become more vocal about his frustration with the three-year-old war. Despite several diplomatic efforts, he has failed to secure a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin, European leaders, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, but none of the meetings led to progress.
Speaking on Friday, Trump hinted at taking strong steps if peace talks remain stalled. He said he might impose massive economic sanctions or tariffs on Russia, or even step back from the process altogether. “I’m going to make a decision, and it’s going to be a very important decision, whether it’s massive sanctions, massive tariffs, or we do nothing and say it’s your fight,” Trump said.
No Putin-Zelenskiy Summit Planned Yet
Trump also wanted to arrange a direct meeting between Putin and Zelenskiy, but Russian officials said no such plan is in place. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told NBC that Putin would only agree to meet Zelenskiy once a proper agenda is ready. For now, Moscow has no plans for a summit.
Meanwhile, reports say that a special approval process in the Pentagon is controlling how Ukraine can use the long-range ATACMS missiles. According to the Wall Street Journal, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has the final authority over whether Ukraine can deploy them against Russian targets.
So far, neither Ukraine’s presidential office nor its defence ministry has commented on the matter. The White House and Pentagon also did not respond immediately to media requests for clarification.