President Biden approved Ukraine’s use of U.S. missiles deep in Russia after North Korean troops entered the war and Trump’s election win raised fears of reduced U.S. support. The move aims to bolster Ukraine’s defense and counter Russian escalations in Kursk and beyond.

President Joe Biden has shifted US policy, allowing Ukraine to use American-supplied ATACMS missiles against deep targets in Russia. This decision follows North Korea’s deployment of troops to Russia’s Kursk region and Donald Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Biden had previously resisted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s requests to loosen restrictions on ATACMS use, concerned about provoking NATO involvement against a nuclear-armed Russia. However, Moscow’s escalation with North Korean troops demanded a US response, officials said.

Trump’s election, and his skepticism about US aid to Ukraine, added urgency to the decision, with the administration aiming to solidify Ukraine’s position before a potential reduction in US support under a Trump presidency. The move seeks to 'Trump-proof' Biden’s Ukraine agenda, one source noted.

Whilst this shift may come too late to significantly alter the conflict’s trajectory, it could help Ukraine defend its foothold in Kursk. Meanwhile, Russia has threatened retaliation, and reports suggest it may have fired an intermediate-range missile during an attack on Dnipro as a warning to NATO.

The White House declined to comment on the decision, while the State Department accused Russia of escalating the conflict by involving North Korean troops.

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