The United States has reportedly blocked Ukraine from launching long-range missiles into Russia. The move comes just days after President Donald Trump declared it would be “impossible” for Ukraine to win the war without directly striking Moscow.
According to reporting by the Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon put in place a review mechanism earlier this year that makes it nearly impossible for Kyiv to carry out attacks inside Russian territory. Under this process, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has the final say on whether Ukrainian forces can use advanced missile systems like the U.S.-made ATACMS or Britain’s Storm Shadow. So far, all requests have been denied.
The decision follows President Trump’s recent statements on his Truth Social platform, where he criticized the former Biden administration for restricting Ukraine to a purely defensive posture. The President argued that no side can win a war without going on the offensive, comparing the conflict to a sports team forced to play defense only.
In one striking post, Mr. Trump even shared an image of himself poking Russian President Vladimir Putin in the chest—mirroring a famous photo of Richard Nixon confronting Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.
Reports also suggest that in a private call in July, President Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy whether his military had the capability to hit Moscow or St. Petersburg. Zelenskyy reportedly said he could—if Western allies provided the right weapons.
Defense officials say the restrictive review policy was designed during Trump’s first year back in office, partly to encourage Russia to enter peace talks. Some in the White House feared that allowing Ukraine to strike deep into Russia with U.S. weapons could escalate tensions and derail negotiations.
Pentagon policymakers like Elbridge Colby, the undersecretary for policy, have also voiced concern that further entanglement in Ukraine could drain U.S. resources, ultimately benefitting China.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials continue to press for greater freedom to use advanced Western missile systems against Russian military targets. For now, however, Washington is keeping those reins tightly in hand.
That’s the latest on the Ukraine conflict. Stay with us—more news is next, here on SNEWS TV.
Reporting by Lisa Lomami.
