Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with US-supplied long-range missiles

US President Joe Biden has authorised Ukraine to launch limited strikes into Russia using US-supplied long-range missiles, in a large policy shift before the complete of his White House term in January, two people familiar with the selection said.

The shift by Biden comes in response to the deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to back Russia in its war against Ukraine, and after a barrage of recent strikes on Ukrainian cities from Russia at the weekend.

Biden has long resisted allowing Kyiv to launch strikes within Russia using long range missiles known as Atacms on the grounds that it could escalate tensions with Moscow.

But he is now dropping those objections with more than two months before he leaves office to make way for Donald Trump, who is sceptical of additional military and safety aid to Ukraine.

The White House declined to comment. The Pentagon declined to respond to a request for comment.

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