Biden suggests US could soon allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles to target deep inside Russia

Joe Biden appears poised to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles deep inside of Russia, including UK-made missiles, in a pivotal moment for the war in Ukraine.

Britain has supplied Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles, which have a range of about 155 miles, three times the range of the missiles Ukraine has used up to now, but it cannot use them to fire at key targets inside Russia. While the UK – and France, which also uses a variant of Storm Shadows – are said to be supportive of using such missiles deep inside Russia, Kyiv is said to be waiting for permission from Washington, given US systems are key to the launch and targeting of long-range missiles.

The US, which has provided Ukraine with the longest-range version of ATACMS, a ballistic missile that can travel 190 miles, has remained hesitant for the firing of long-range missiles into Russia over fears of a reaction from Moscow that could escalate the conflict. They are believed to be particularly concerned that Russia could respond by deploying nuclear weapons.