President Biden’s choice to permit Ukraine to utilize Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS, was made in reaction to Russia integrating North Korean troops into the conflict.
By ADAM ENTOUS, ERIC SCHMITT and JULIAN E. BARNES
U.S. officials indicated that President Joe Biden has granted permission for Ukraine to use long-range missiles supplied by the U.S. for strikes on targets within Russia.
These weapons are expected to be first deployed against Russian and North Korean troops as a defense for Ukrainian forces located in the Kursk region of western Russia, according to the officials.
Biden’s move represents a significant shift in U.S. policy. This decision has led to divisions among his advisers and comes just two months prior to President-elect Donald Trump assuming office, who has pledged to reduce further support for Ukraine.
The authorization for Ukrainians to use the long-range missiles, identified as Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS, was prompted by Russia’s unexpected action of involving North Korean soldiers in the conflict, officials noted.
Biden began to relax the limitations on U.S.-supplied arms being used against Russian positions following Russia’s cross-border offensive in May targeting Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest metropolis.
To assist the defense of Kharkiv, Biden permitted Ukraine to employ the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, which is capable of reaching targets approximately 50 miles away, against Russian forces near the border. However, usage of the longer-range ATACMS, with a range of about 190 miles, was not initially authorized for Kharkiv’s defense.
Officials stated that while they do not anticipate this policy shift to drastically change the war’s trajectory, one goal of the change is to convey to North Korea that their deployed forces are at risk, discouraging additional deployments.
While Ukrainian forces are likely to prioritize the missiles against Russian and North Korean troops threatening them in Kursk, Biden may later grant authorization for their use in other areas.
Some U.S. officials expressed concerns that Ukraine’s potential use of missiles across the border could provoke a military response from Russian President Vladimir Putin against the United States and its allies.
Conversely, other U.S. officials consider such fears to be exaggerated.
The Russian military is preparing for a significant operation involving an estimated 50,000 troops, inclusive of North Korean soldiers, targeting well-fortified Ukrainian positions in Kursk with aims to reclaim the Russian territory lost to the Ukrainians in August.
Ukrainians could utilize the ATACMS missiles to hit troop concentrations, critical military assets, logistical centers, ammunition stores, and supply routes deep within Russian territory.
This action could assist Ukraine in mitigating the impact of the Russian-North Korean offensive.
The deliberation over arming Ukraine with long-range ATACMS has been a particularly delicate issue since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Certain Pentagon officials resisted providing these missiles to Ukraine, citing limited stocks within the U.S. Army. Meanwhile, some White House officials worried that supplying the missiles could escalate the conflict as Putin might respond aggressively.
Advocates for a bolder approach towards Russia argue that Biden and his advisers have been overly influenced by Putin’s threatening rhetoric, claiming that the administration’s gradual strategy in equipping Ukrainians has resulted in a disadvantage on the battlefield.
Supporters of Biden’s strategy assert that it has been largely effective in preventing a violent reaction from Russia.
Permitting long-range strikes on Russian territory utilizing U.S. missiles could alter this situation.
In August, Ukrainian forces undertook their own incursion into the Kursk region, successfully taking control of a portion of Russian territory.
Since that incident, U.S. officials have grown increasingly apprehensive about the current state of the Ukrainian military, which has been overstretched due to simultaneous Russian offensives in the east, Kharkiv, and now Kursk.
The introduction of more than 10,000 North Korean troops and Biden’s subsequent measures coincide with Trump’s impending return to office, with an expressed intention to swiftly conclude the conflict.
Trump has remained largely silent regarding his strategy for resolving the situation. However, Vice President-elect JD Vance has proposed a plan that would permit Russia to retain the Ukrainian territories currently under its control.
Ukrainians hope to leverage any Russian territory they maintain in Kursk for Ukrainian territory held by Russia in potential future talks.
Should the Russian offensive against Ukrainian forces in Kursk prove successful, Ukraine may find itself with little to offer Moscow in a territory exchange.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has persistently sought permission from the United States and its allies to utilize long-range missiles to strike targets within Russia.
The British and French militaries have provided Ukraine with a limited supply of Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles, which possess a range of approximately 155 miles, shorter than the U.S. missile systems.
Although British and French leaders expressed support for Zelenskyy’s request, they hesitated to allow the Ukrainians to employ their missiles on Russian territory unless Biden concurred with granting the same permission for ATACMS.
Biden has exhibited a more cautious approach compared to his British and French counterparts, and his senior advisors are split on the appropriate course of action.
Some advisors highlighted a recent U.S. intelligence report indicating that Putin might retaliate against the usage of long-range ATACMS on Russian territory by instructing the Russian military or its intelligence agencies to respond with force, potentially targeting the United States and its European allies.
The report cautioned about various potential Russian reactions, including intensified acts of arson and sabotage directed at facilities in Europe, as well as possible lethal assaults on U.S. and European military installations.
Officials mentioned that Biden was convinced to implement this change partly due to the audacity of Russia’s decision to deploy North Korean forces against Ukrainian defenses.
He was also influenced, they remarked, by worries that without the capability for long-range self-defense, the Russian assault force could decisively overpower Ukrainian troops in Kursk.
