Report: Pentagon preventing Ukraine from using US-made missiles to hit targets inside Russia

The Pentagon has prevented Ukraine from using US-made long-range missiles to hit targets inside Russia for a number of months, US officials tell the Wall Street Journal.

A US Defense Department approval procedure has been used to stop Kyiv from using long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems since late spring, the officials tell the outlet, restricting Ukraine in its ability to operate against Russia as US President Donald Trump began warming ties with President Vladimir Putin.

According to the newspaper, the approval mechanism for requests from Ukraine to use the system gives Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth the final say.

“President Trump has been very clear that the war in Ukraine needs to end. There has been no change in military posture in Russia-Ukraine at this time,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt tells the WSJ in a statement. “Secretary Hegseth is working in lockstep with President Trump.”