Donald Trump has authorized Ukraine to deploy specific long-range missiles provided by Western allies following the cancellation of a scheduled meeting with Vladimir Putin. According to US officials, a key restriction on the missiles’ use has been removed, allowing Kyiv to target deep into Russia and increase pressure on the Kremlin.
Recently, Ukraine launched British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles at a chemical plant in Russia’s Bryansk region, as announced by Ukraine’s Armed Forces General Staff on social media, describing it as a successful strike. Ukrainian forces stated that the Russian facility produced materials used in ammunition and missiles that were used to attack Ukrainian territory.
An unexpected decision by the US transferred the authorization for such attacks from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to General Alexus Grynkewich, the top US general in Europe and NATO commander, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. The missile strike using UK-made missiles coincided with PM Keir Starmer and other European leaders pledging to intensify economic and defense industry pressure on Russia until Putin is willing to negotiate peace.
Discussions between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Budapest were recently called off, with Trump expressing reluctance to engage in an unproductive meeting with the Russian leader. Trump has been urging Putin to engage in talks to end the conflict since early October, emphasizing the potential use of military action if necessary.
While President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has been advocating for increased military assistance, particularly in the form of US-made Tomahawk missiles, Trump has refrained from supplying them to avoid escalating tensions with Moscow. Russia had previously cautioned that US assistance with Tomahawks could be viewed as direct involvement in the conflict.
The Storm Shadow cruise missile, a joint British-French creation, can be launched from Ukrainian aircraft and has a range exceeding 180 miles. The US has the ability to regulate Ukraine’s utilization of the missile due to its reliance on American target data.