• In a significant shift in policy, the Biden administration has authorized Ukraine to use US-made weapons to conduct long-range strikes deep into Russia, according to US officials and a source familiar with the decision.
• This move comes after months of requests from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and in response to Russia's deployment of North Korean ground troops, which has raised concerns in Washington and Kyiv.
• Ukraine plans to carry out its first long-range attacks in the coming days using ATACMS rockets, which have a range of up to 190 miles.
• While some US officials are skeptical about the overall impact of these strikes on the war's trajectory, they could potentially help Ukraine at a time when Russian forces are making gains and improve its negotiating position in future ceasefire talks.
• The decision has drawn mixed reactions, with some congressional Republicans supporting it while others, including Trump's foreign policy adviser, criticizing it as an escalation of the conflict.