President Biden has given the green light for Ukraine to use long-range missiles against Russian and North Korean forces in the Kursk region, according to various news sources.
This is significant because it marks the first occasion where Biden has allowed Ukraine to deploy U.S.-made long-range missiles within Russia’s borders.
An insider revealed that these Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) are specifically approved for action in Kursk, where North Korean troops are stationed.
So, what’s the scoop? North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, has sent a large contingent of soldiers to Kursk to support Putin’s military efforts in Ukraine.
Behind the scenes, it seems Biden communicated this decision to Ukraine about three days ago.
The aim? To discourage North Korea from sending even more troops into Russia for this ongoing conflict. U.S. officials believe that if Ukrainian forces target North Korean troops in Kursk, it might make Pyongyang reconsider its troop deployment and potentially weaken any Russian retaliation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned during a speech on Sunday that a vital element of Kyiv’s “victory plan” involves enhancing their army’s long-range capabilities.
He noted there’s been plenty of media chatter about receiving permission for specific actions but emphasized that actual strikes aren’t just about talk—“missiles will speak for themselves,” he confidently stated.
Meanwhile, a Pentagon spokesperson chose not to comment on this situation.
On another note, last month Vladimir Putin claimed that if Western nations allow Ukraine to attack Russian territory with long-range weapons, it would mean NATO countries are directly involved in the war.
Looking at the bigger picture, John Hardie from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) suggested that limiting this authorization solely to Kursk isn’t wise.
He argued that letting Ukraine target important locations throughout Russia could strengthen Kyiv’s position in future negotiations and might even encourage Moscow to agree on halting attacks on critical energy infrastructure.