Report: Pentagon Blocks Ukraine From Firing Western Missiles Deep Into Russia
The Trump administration’s Department of Defense has reportedly been blocking Ukraine from using American and British-made long-range missiles to strike targets deep inside Russian territory, according to a new report from The Wall Street Journal.
Unnamed U.S. officials told the outlet that Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Eldridge Colby developed a procedure to review any Ukrainian requests to conduct long-range strikes using weapons of U.S. origin, or those that rely on American intelligence or components. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reportedly has the final authority to approve or deny such strikes.
The restrictions affect weapons like the MGM-140 ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System), a long-range surface-to-surface missile that Ukraine has sought to use against Russia’s military and logistical hubs.
The policy reportedly coincides with President Donald Trump’s push to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. A Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment on the matter when reached by WSJ.
The Biden administration had previously allowed Ukraine to conduct strikes with ATACMS in November 2024, just weeks after Trump won the presidential election. Trump sharply criticized that move in a December interview with Time magazine, saying:
“It’s crazy what’s taking place. It’s crazy. 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. That should not have been allowed to be done.”
Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 15 in Alaska for a high-stakes summit aimed at negotiating a cease-fire in the nearly three-year war. As the two leaders convened, a B-2A Spirit stealth bomber and several fighter jets conducted a flyover at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage.
Three days later, on Aug. 18, Trump held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and top European leaders to brief them on the summit discussions.
The Pentagon’s restrictions on long-range strikes are the latest flashpoint in the balancing act between supporting Ukraine’s defense and preventing escalation into a direct NATO-Russia conflict.
In July, Trump also struck a deal with NATO allies to boost weapons deliveries to Ukraine, with member nations pledging to purchase U.S.-made arms — including MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile systems — and donate them to Kyiv.
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