US lifts key restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons

The Trump administration has lifted a key restriction on Ukraine’s use of some long-range missiles provided by Western allies, enabling Kyiv to step up attacks on targets inside Russia and increase pressure on the Kremlin, US officials said Wednesday.

Ukraine has already utilized this new capability, using a British-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missile on Tuesday to hit a Russian plant in Bryansk that produced explosives and rocket fuel.

Ukraine’s Armed Forces General Staff announced the “successful hit” on social media, noting that the missile penetrated Russian air defenses. The policy change was made without public announcement and follows a shift in authority for approving such strikes.

The responsibility has moved from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to General Alexus Grynkewich, the top US general in Europe who also serves as NATO commander. This is likely to change Ukraine’s strategy in the war.

US officials anticipate Ukraine will conduct additional cross-border attacks using the Storm Shadow missiles, which are launched from Ukrainian aircraft and have a range exceeding 180 miles.

Allowing Ukraine to use long range weapons more freely could force Russia into accepting a more favorable peace deal with Ukraine. We are still a long way from that happening, but this was an encouraging move to give Ukraine some leverage to get there one day.