Washington:

The Biden administration has lifted restrictions that previously prevented Ukraine from using US-provided weapons to target deep within Russian territory, marking a significant shift in US policy regarding the Ukraine-Russia conflict, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

Ukraine is reportedly preparing for its first long-range strikes in the coming days, though details remain undisclosed for security reasons.

The White House has declined to comment on the matter.

This decision, made just over two months before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, follows repeated requests from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to allow Ukraine’s military to use US weapons for long-range attacks against Russian military targets far from Ukraine’s borders.

The change comes amid heightened concerns in Washington and Kyiv about Russia’s deployment of North Korean ground troops to reinforce its forces in Ukraine.

The initial deep strikes are expected to involve the use of ATACMS rockets, which have a range of up to 190 miles (306 km), according to the sources.

While some US officials have expressed doubts about the long-term impact of allowing such strikes, the move could provide Ukraine with a strategic advantage at a time when Russian forces are making gains. It may also position Kyiv more favorably in any future ceasefire negotiations.

It remains uncertain whether Trump will reverse this decision upon taking office. Trump has long criticized the scale of US military and financial aid to Ukraine and has pledged to end the war swiftly, though without detailing how he plans to do so.

Meanwhile, some Republicans in Congress have urged Biden to relax the restrictions on how Ukraine can use US-provided weapons.

Russia has warned that loosening these limits would be seen as a major escalation in the conflict.