Biden lifts restrictions on Ukraine's use of US-supplied weapons inside Russian territory

President Biden has given the OK to lift restrictions that would allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons provided by the US to strike deep into Russian territory, a US official confirmed to CBS News on Sunday. The move is a major shift in US policy going forward Ukraine-Russia conflict.

The easing of restrictions will allow Kyiv to spend Army Tactical Missile Systemor ATACMS, to strike targets inside Russia. The move also comes as about 10,000 North Korean troops are being sent to Kursk near Ukraine's northern border to help Russian troops take over the area.

The White House National Security Council declined to comment to CBS News.

The U.S. decision could help Ukraine at a time when Russian forces appear to be making gains and could put Kyiv in a better negotiating position in the event of peace talks.

It also comes as Mr. Biden is about to leave office and President-elect Trump has committed reduce American support to Ukraine and ending the war as soon as possible.

In an interview with Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne on Friday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv would like end the war with Russia next year through “diplomatic means.”

He said he is sure that this war will end “sooner” than if Mr. Trump is president.

“It is certain that the war will end soon with the policies of the team that will lead the White House. This is their way, their promise to their citizens,” said Zelenskyy.

February 2025 will mark the third year of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine as Russian forces have gained strength in recent months.

For months, Zelenskyy and many of his Western allies have been calling for the use of US weapons to strike Russian military targets far from its border, saying the US embargo has made it difficult for Ukraine to try to stop Russian attacks on its cities and power grids. .

Some Republicans in Congress have urged Mr. Biden to loosen rules on how Ukraine can use US-provided weapons.

News of Biden's decision followed meetings two days ago with the leaders of South Korea, Japan and China where the North Korean military was the mainstay of the talks, which were on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru.

Biden did not mention the decision when he spoke at Amazon's stop in Brazil on his way to the Group of 20 summit.

Asked about the decision, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at a press conference that the board's position is to “avoid a permanent deceleration of the war in Ukraine.”

“We want peace, we want a good peace,” Guterres said Sunday ahead of the Group of 20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. He did not elaborate.

The United States is Ukraine's most important military ally, providing more than $56.2 billion in security aid since Russian forces invaded in February 2022.

Eleanor Watson contributed to this report.