U.S. lifts key restriction on Ukraine’s use of western long-range missiles

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🗞️ Driving the news: The Trump administration has lifted a key restriction on Ukraine's use of Western long-range missiles, allowing Kyiv to target deeper inside Russian territory
• This move aims to increase pressure on Moscow, coinciding with Trump’s broader push to force Russia into peace talks
• Ukraine’s use of the newly accessible British-supplied Storm Shadow missile recently struck a Russian plant in Bryansk, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict

🔭 The context: For months, the U.S. had limited Ukraine's access to certain long-range missiles, citing concerns about the potential for deep strikes within Russian territory and the risk of escalating the war
• However, recent shifts in U.S. policy reflect both Ukraine’s military needs and growing pressure to weaken Russian defenses
• The strike on the Bryansk plant, which produces explosives and rocket fuel, demonstrates the new capabilities granted by this policy shift

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The escalation in military strikes could have broader geopolitical implications, potentially prolonging the conflict and escalating tensions between nuclear-armed powers
• This policy change also risks further destabilizing the region and complicating diplomatic efforts to negotiate a peaceful resolution, which could delay any meaningful progress on global peace and stability efforts
• Additionally, prolonged conflict in Ukraine continues to disrupt supply chains and has significant environmental impacts, particularly with regard to damage to infrastructure, pollution, and resource depletion

⏭️ What's next: The lifting of missile restrictions may lead to more frequent and intense Ukrainian strikes within Russia, potentially shifting the military balance
• The U.S. and NATO are likely to monitor the response from Russia closely, as this could influence both battlefield dynamics and diplomatic negotiations
• As the war continues, the international community will be focused on whether this policy shift leads to a breakthrough in negotiations or further escalation

💬 One quote: “This move will increase pressure on the Kremlin, but it also raises the stakes for all involved in the conflict,” said a U.S. official familiar with the decision

📈 One stat: The strike on the Bryansk plant using the Storm Shadow missile successfully breached Russian air defenses, marking a significant military achievement for Ukraine in the conflict

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