The Trump administration has decided to provide Ukraine with intelligence support for long-range missile strikes deep into Russian territory, marking the first time the US has offered such assistance in the nearly four-year conflict, according to The Wall Street Journal. This support will enable Ukraine to target Russian energy infrastructure, including refineries, pipelines, and power plants, which remain Russia’s main source of revenue amid the ongoing war.
President Trump has previously taken steps to pressure countries buying Russian oil, including imposing a 50% tariff on India and urging European nations to cut energy imports from Russia, although the US continues to import Russian chemicals, uranium, and fertilizers.
The decision authorizes US intelligence agencies and the Pentagon to aid Ukraine in planning long-range strikes. NATO allies have also been asked to provide similar support. To execute such strikes, Ukraine would need Tomahawk missiles, which have a range of 2,500 km, potentially allowing strikes on Moscow and much of western Russia. While Ukrainian President Zelensky requested these missiles during talks with Trump at the UN General Assembly, the US has not yet committed to supplying them.
Russia condemned the move, warning it would respond if Tomahawks were provided and noting that US and NATO infrastructure is being used to relay intelligence to Ukraine. The development signals a shift in Trump’s approach to the war, reflecting frustration with Russia for avoiding negotiations, though he has not imposed additional sanctions on Moscow. Trump has also suggested that Ukraine could reclaim all its territory and possibly go beyond, without providing further details.
