Pentagon restricts Ukraine’s use of US missiles inside Russia: WSJ
3 Min Read
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon has restricted Ukraine from using US-supplied long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia.
-
In this image provided by the US Army, US Army Sgt Ian Ketterling, gunner for Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Field Artillery Brigade, prepares the crane for loading the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) on to the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) in Queensland, Australia, on July 26, 2023 (Sgt 1st Class Andrew Dickson/US Army via AP)
The Pentagon has reportedly blocked Ukraine from deploying US-supplied long-range missiles to strike targets deep inside Russia, a move that underscores Washington’s control over Kiev’s military strategy and its push for renewed negotiations with Moscow, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal on Sunday.
Since late spring, US defense officials have prevented Ukraine from using the Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) against Russian targets. The WSJ report states that the restriction was imposed through a special review mechanism designed under Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby. This system determines whether American long-range weapons, or European systems reliant on US intelligence, can be deployed.
The review process extends to Britain’s Storm Shadow cruise missiles, as they also depend on US targeting data, officials told the WSJ. Under this framework, final approval reportedly rests with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Trump administration’s push for negotiations
The decision aligns with the Trump administration’s broader effort to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin into peace talks. Before his inauguration, Donald Trump criticized the earlier authorization that allowed Ukraine to strike inside Russia, calling it 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 told Time magazine.
While the Pentagon’s review process has not been formally declared as a new policy, it comes at a moment when the administration is tightening control over weapons supplied to Ukraine, partly due to concerns about dwindling US stockpiles.
Strategic restrictions and intelligence control
The Wall Street Journal noted that the US approval is now required for each ATACMS launch, even after the Biden administration had authorized Ukrainian use of the system in November 2024, following the entry of North Korean troops into the war.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Washington has maintained strict oversight of Ukraine’s military actions through weapons restrictions and intelligence control. As detailed in recent reports, the US has long exercised influence over Ukraine’s targeting decisions, including advising Kiev to avoid attacks on Russian oil refineries and early-warning radar systems, citing fears of escalation and global economic consequences.
As a matter of fact, the US approach to Ukraine mirrors Washington’s historical control over allied forces in other conflicts. From the Korean War to the Gulf War, Afghanistan, and NATO’s campaigns in the Balkans, the United States has consistently maintained operational authority through command structures, intelligence leverage, and technological dependencies.
Analysts note that Ukraine’s reliance on US intelligence makes independent military decision-making difficult, as many Western weapons systems, including HIMARS and Storm Shadow missiles, cannot be fully utilized without American data.
While the Trump administration insists that it seeks to end the war through negotiations, the Pentagon’s restrictions highlight a central reality that Ukraine’s battlefield decisions remain heavily shaped by Washington.
