The Pentagon has been preventing Ukraine from using American long-range missiles to hit targets deep inside Russia since late spring, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Saturday. The move is part of the Trump administration’s effort to draw Vladimir Putin into peace talks.
The report says Ukraine has been barred from firing US-supplied Army Tactical Missile Systems (Atacms), which can strike targets nearly 190 miles (305 km) away. At least once, Kyiv requested to use the weapons but was denied under a new “review mechanism” set up by Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s undersecretary for policy.
That review system, according to US and British officials, also covers Britain’s Storm Shadow cruise missiles, since they rely on American targeting data. Under the process, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has final say on whether Atacms can be used.
Ukraine was first cleared to strike inside Russia with Atacms in November, during the Biden administration, after North Korean troops entered the conflict. But before taking office in January, Donald Trump criticized that decision, telling Time magazine it was a mistake.
“I disagree very vehemently with sending missiles hundreds of miles into Russia. Why are we doing that? We’re just escalating this war and making it worse,” Trump said at the time.
It remains unclear whether the new Pentagon review amounts to an official policy change, but it comes as Washington tightens control over weapons sent to Ukraine while US stockpiles shrink.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told the Journal that Trump “has been very clear that the war in Ukraine needs to end. There has been no change in military posture in Russia-Ukraine at this time.”
Still, Trump appeared to strike a different note last week as he pushed for negotiations between Putin and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Writing on Thursday, he argued Ukraine could not win without striking Russian territory.
“It’s like a great team in sports that has a fantastic defense, but is not allowed to play offense. There is no chance of winning,” he said.
Meanwhile, the US recently agreed to send Ukraine new weapons systems, but only if European allies covered the cost. While Trump has ruled out providing missiles that could reach Moscow, the administration has approved the sale of 3,350 Extended Range Attack Munition (Erams) missiles, which can hit targets up to 280 miles (400 km) away, officials told the Journal.
