Overview

• Since late spring, a case-by-case approval process has blocked Ukraine from firing U.S.-made ATACMS into Russia, with at least one request denied, according to the Wall Street Journal.
• The restrictions also cover allied systems that depend on U.S. targeting or intelligence, including Britain and France’s Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missiles.
• The mechanism was developed by Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby and represents a practical reversal of the Biden-era authorization granted in November 2024.
• Washington has approved a Europe-financed sale of 3,350 ERAM air‑launched missiles, but U.S. officials say their operational use would be subject to the same review.
• President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is conducting deep strikes with domestically produced long‑range weapons and is not coordinating those decisions with the United States, while highlighting progress toward mass production of the Flamingo missile.