According to a story from The Wall Street Journal that cites US sources, the Pentagon has been covertly stopping Ukraine from utilizing US-made long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to hit targets within Russia. It is said that this surprise stance is making it harder for Kyiv to employ the heavy armaments to fight back against Moscow’s assault.
According to the article, there has been a secret high-level permission process in place since late spring. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has the final decision over how the long-range missiles are used. Donald Trump has been openly upset with the three-year-old war and his failure to get a peace settlement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump has lately said that Ukraine doesn’t have enough offensive capabilities, but authorities say that his public comments don’t mean that strategy will alter. Reports say that the administration’s quiet order is part of a move to “entice” Russia into peace talks, even if diplomatic efforts are still stuck. Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, said recently that there is no agenda for a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy and that it is not scheduled for now.
The White House and the Pentagon haven’t yet reacted to demands for comment on the report. This leaves the policy’s status—and Ukraine’s ability to launch vital strikes—in a state of ambiguity.