Donald Trump has authorized Ukraine to utilize specific long-range missiles provided by Western allies following the cancellation of a scheduled meeting with Vladimir Putin. A significant restriction on their deployment has been removed, granting Kyiv the ability to target deep inside Russia and exert pressure on the Kremlin, according to US officials on Wednesday.
Ukraine launched British-manufactured Storm Shadow cruise missiles at a chemical facility in Russia’s Bryansk region on Tuesday, as confirmed by Ukraine’s Armed Forces General Staff on social media, describing it as a “successful strike.” Ukrainian forces stated that the Russian plant is involved in the production of gunpowder, explosives, and components for rocket fuel used in ammunition and missiles that have been utilized to attack Ukrainian territory.
The decision to lift the constraint on such attacks was made by General Alexus Grynkewich, the top US general in Europe who also serves as NATO commander, following an undisclosed move that shifted approval from US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. The missile assault with UK-manufactured weapons coincided with a pledge by PM Keir Starmer and other European leaders to escalate economic and defense industry pressure on Russia until Putin is willing to negotiate for peace.
This development followed the breakdown of planned discussions between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Budapest, with Trump expressing his reluctance to engage in an unproductive meeting with the Russian president. Trump has been urging Putin to engage in talks to end the conflict since early October, with previous statements hinting at the possibility of supplying Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles if the war persists.
Despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s push for increased military backing, particularly for US-made Tomahawk missiles, Trump has refrained from pursuing this option to avoid provoking Moscow. Russia had cautioned against US assistance in launching Tomahawks, suggesting it could be interpreted as direct involvement in the conflict.
The Storm Shadow cruise missile, developed jointly by Britain and France, can be deployed from Ukrainian aircraft and has a range exceeding 180 miles. The US has the capacity to regulate Ukraine’s use of the missile due to its reliance on American targeting data.