Former President Donald Trump denied a Wall Street Journal report claiming his administration approved Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia. The WSJ cited U.S. officials who said the Trump administration lifted restrictions on Western-supplied weapons to Kyiv earlier this month.
- Trump wrote on Truth Social that the story was “FAKE NEWS,” asserting that the U.S. “has nothing to do with those missiles” or Ukraine’s decisions on their use.
- The WSJ reported that Ukraine recently used British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles to hit a Russian explosives plant in Bryansk.
- According to the report, authority for approving such strikes shifted from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the top U.S. commander in Europe.
- U.S. officials told the Journal that the policy change allows Ukraine to conduct more cross-border strikes using missiles that rely on U.S. targeting data.
- The White House said Trump is focused on pressuring Russia toward peace talks and reaffirmed that he negotiated a NATO weapons purchase agreement.
Relevant Companies
- Boeing Co. ($BA) — Produces components for U.S. missile systems, including Atacms and Tomahawk variants.
- Lockheed Martin Corp. ($LMT) — Manufacturer of the Army Tactical Missile System (Atacms) used by Ukraine.
- Rolls-Royce Holdings ($RR) — Supplies engines and propulsion technology for the British Storm Shadow missile.
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. This article may be updated as more details become available.
