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MANAUS, Brazil (AP) – President Joe Biden has approved Ukraine’s use of U.S.-supplied long-range missiles to strike deeper into Russia, but one U.S. official says the restrictions are being eased. The aim is to prevent the conflict from spiraling further. and three people familiar with the matter.
Ukraine’s decision to allow the use of the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACM) to attack Russia’s hinterland comes as thousands of North Korean troops are being sent to areas along Ukraine’s northern border to help retake Russia. , President-elect Donald Trump has said he will quickly end the war and expressed skepticism about continued U.S. aid.
One of the people said the weapons would likely be used in response to North Korea’s decision to support Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. The official and a person familiar with the matter were not authorized to publicly discuss the decision and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and many Western supporters argue that the U.S. ban has made it impossible for Ukraine to try to prevent Russian attacks on its country, and that Ukraine has been able to attack deep inside Russia with Western-supplied missiles. The United States has been pressuring Biden for months to allow it to attack military targets in the United States. Cities and power grids.
Some supporters argue that this and other U.S. constraints could cost Ukraine a war. The debate has been a source of disagreement among Ukraine’s NATO allies.
Biden remained opposed and was determined to draw the line at any escalation that he felt could draw the United States and other NATO members into direct conflict with Russia.
However, North Korea has sent thousands of troops to Russia this year to help Russia re-land in the Kursk border area, which was occupied by Ukraine. The introduction of North Korean troops into the conflict comes as Moscow senses a positive shift in momentum. President Trump has hinted that he may force Ukraine to give up some of the land seized by Russia in an effort to end the conflict.
As many as 12,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia, according to assessments by the United States, South Korea and Ukraine. U.S. and South Korean intelligence officials said North Korea is also providing large amounts of ammunition to Russia to replenish its dwindling weapons stockpile.
Trump, who takes office in January, has said for months as a candidate that he wanted to see an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, but largely avoided questions about whether he wanted the U.S. ally to win.
He also repeatedly criticized the Biden administration for providing tens of billions of dollars in aid to Kiev. His election victory has left Ukraine’s international supporters worried that a hasty resolution will primarily benefit Mr. Putin.
The United States is Ukraine’s most valuable ally in the war, providing more than $56.2 billion in security assistance since the Russian military invasion in February 2022.
But the Biden administration, concerned about Russia’s reaction, repeatedly delayed providing some specific advanced weapons sought by Ukraine, and after long rejecting such requests, under pressure from Ukraine and in consultation with allies. It was only an agreement.
That included initially rejecting President Zelenskiy’s pleas for systems such as advanced tanks, the Patriot air defense system and F-16 fighter jets.
In May, the White House agreed to allow Ukraine to use ATACMS for limited cross-border attacks with Russia.
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Long, Miller and Lee reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington and Will Weissert in West Palm Beach contributed to this report.
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