For months, behind the scenes in Washington, a quiet but consequential decision has been shaping the course of the war in Ukraine. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon has been deliberately blocking Ukraine from using U.S.-made long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to strike targets inside Russia. This restriction, confirmed by U.S. officials and cited by both Reuters and The Straits Times, has placed significant limits on Kyiv’s ability to employ these powerful weapons in its ongoing defense against Moscow’s invasion.
The timing of this revelation is anything but coincidental. As the war drags into its third year, U.S. President Donald Trump has grown increasingly vocal about his frustration with the lack of progress toward peace. On August 22, 2025, after a series of high-level meetings that failed to yield a breakthrough, Trump openly aired his dissatisfaction. "I’m going to make a decision as to what we do and it’s going to be, it’s going to be a very important decision, and that’s whether or not it’s massive sanctions or massive tariffs or both, or we do nothing and say it’s your fight," Trump told reporters, as quoted by Reuters.
Trump’s comments came in the wake of a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as meetings with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Despite these diplomatic efforts, no observable progress on a peace deal materialized. Trump had been hoping to orchestrate a direct meeting between Putin and Zelenskiy, but even that proved elusive. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking to NBC on August 22, 2025, made it clear that, "Putin is ready to meet with Zelenskiy when the agenda would be ready for a summit. And this agenda is not ready at all," adding that no such meeting was planned for the foreseeable future.
As the White House continued to push for renewed peace talks, the Pentagon’s internal approval process for the use of ATACMS missiles became a focal point of contention. The Wall Street Journal reported on August 23, 2025, that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth holds the final authority over whether Ukraine can deploy these long-range missiles for strikes inside Russian territory. This gatekeeping role effectively blocks Kyiv from launching attacks deep into Russia, a limitation that some Ukrainian officials and military strategists argue hampers their ability to change the dynamics of the battlefield.
The rationale behind the Pentagon’s caution remains largely unspoken in official channels. Neither Ukraine’s presidential office nor its defense ministry responded to requests for comment from Reuters. The White House and the Pentagon, too, have kept their statements to a minimum, declining to elaborate on the reasons for the restrictions. However, analysts suggest that the U.S. is walking a tightrope: eager to support Ukraine’s defense, but wary of escalating the conflict into a broader war with Russia by enabling strikes on Russian soil using American weaponry.
For Ukraine, the restriction is more than a bureaucratic hurdle—it’s a strategic limitation. The ATACMS system, with its ability to strike targets at ranges up to 190 miles, could allow Ukrainian forces to disrupt Russian logistics, command centers, and supply lines far beyond the frontlines. Without authorization to use these missiles against targets inside Russia, Ukraine’s options remain constrained, even as it faces relentless pressure from Russian advances.
Meanwhile, President Trump’s options appear equally fraught. His frustration has been mounting not just over the lack of a peace deal, but also over the challenges of balancing American interests with those of its allies. After the failed summit and unsuccessful attempts to bring Putin and Zelenskiy to the table, Trump floated the possibility of imposing new sanctions or tariffs on Russia. Yet he also hinted at the alternative: stepping back and telling Ukraine that the fight is theirs alone. This vacillation reflects the broader dilemma facing the U.S.—how far to go in supporting Ukraine without triggering unintended consequences.
Diplomatic efforts have shown little sign of progress. Lavrov’s remarks to NBC underscored the deadlock: "Putin is ready to meet Zelenskiy when the agenda would be ready for a summit. And this agenda is not ready at all." The lack of a clear path forward has left both sides in a holding pattern, with Ukraine seeking greater support and Russia holding firm to its demands.
Within the Pentagon, the decision-making process is shrouded in secrecy. The Journal’s report highlighted that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has the final say over any Ukrainian request to use ATACMS missiles for cross-border strikes. This centralization of authority is intended to provide a check on escalation, but it has also become a point of frustration for Ukrainian officials, who argue that their ability to defend their country is being hamstrung by decisions made thousands of miles away.
So, where does this leave the broader effort to end the war? For now, the status quo prevails. The U.S. continues to provide substantial military and economic aid to Ukraine, but with strings attached. The White House is still searching for a diplomatic breakthrough, but tangible progress remains elusive. And on the ground, Ukrainian forces are forced to fight with one hand tied behind their back—at least when it comes to using the most advanced American weaponry against Russian targets.
The debate over the use of ATACMS missiles is emblematic of the larger dilemmas facing Western policymakers. How much support is enough? Where is the line between aiding an ally and provoking a wider war? These are not easy questions, and the answers may well shape the future of the conflict.
As the war grinds on, the frustration in Washington and Kyiv is palpable. Trump’s blunt assessment—whether to escalate with sanctions, pull back entirely, or continue the current course—captures the uncertainty of this moment. For now, the Pentagon’s quiet blockade remains in place, and Ukraine’s fight continues, with the world watching and waiting for the next move.