Doha: Washington: US media revealed on Saturday that Washington has secretly barred Ukraine from using American-supplied long-range missiles to strike targets deep inside Russia, effectively restricting Kyiv's ability to deploy these weapons in the ongoing conflict, now in its fourth year.
According to Qatar News Agency, The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, reported that the Department of Defense has imposed undisclosed restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), preventing strikes within Russian territory. The move directly limits Ukraine's operational scope against Russian forces.
The report states that the policy, implemented since late last spring, requires Kyiv to secure high-level approval from the Pentagon before employing ATACMS missiles, which have a range exceeding 300 kilometers. A special "review mechanism" has been established, granting US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth the final authority to approve or block any potential launches.
These restrictions come as President Donald Trump's administration seeks to open dialogue with Moscow, amid fading prospects for a comprehensive peace summit. White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt affirmed that President Trump has been clear in his commitment to ending the war.
Trump has repeatedly voiced frustration over the war's three-year duration and the continued failure to achieve a peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv.