Trump denies report claiming U.S. lifted restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles
U.S. President Donald Trump denied a report by The Wall Street Journal alleging that his administration had lifted key restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied long-range missiles, such as the British and French-made Storm Shadow and SCALP systems.
In a statement on Truth Social platform, Trump stated: “The Wall Street Journal’s report that the United States allowed Ukraine to use long-range missiles to strike deep into Russia is fake news! The United States has nothing to do with these missiles — wherever they come from — or what Ukraine does with them.”
The WSJ report, citing unnamed U.S. officials, claimed that Washington had authorized Kyiv to use long-range precision weapons in attacks inside Russian territory. The decision, according to the report, was intended to strengthen Ukraine’s military capabilities amid Russia’s intensified offensives and the alleged involvement of North Korean troops on the battlefield.
Storm Shadow missiles, jointly developed by the United Kingdom and France under the name SCALP-EG, are designed to destroy fortified bunkers, ammunition depots, command centers, and critical infrastructure. With a range of up to 250 kilometers, each missile is estimated to cost around £2 million.
Ukraine reportedly used these British-made Storm Shadow missiles last November for the first time to strike targets within Russia, following Moscow’s deployment of North Korean units to support its forces.
After Trump’s statement, Reuters reported that neither the White House nor the Pentagon provided any comment, while BBC and Politico noted the growing confusion surrounding Washington’s position on Ukraine’s use of Western weaponry. (ILKHA)
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