US Authorises Ukraine to Use Long-Range US Missiles for Strikes Inside Russia

US President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use long-range American missiles against military targets inside Russia. According to various reports, including AFP and The New York Times, this decision was made in response to North Korea deploying troops to support Russia's war effort. The US official told AFP that the move is a "massive" escalation in the conflict, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that this would mean that NATO is "at war" with Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed the decision, saying that the missiles will "speak for themselves". The weapons are initially likely to be employed against Russian and North Korean troops in defense of Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region of western Russia. This move comes two months before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, who has vowed to limit further support for Ukraine.