ISTANBUL

In a major policy shift, outgoing US President Joe Biden on Sunday authorized Ukraine to use American long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) for "limited strikes" within Russian territory, US media reported.

The decision follows reports of North Korea sending troops to support Moscow’s war effort, The Washington Post said, quoting two US officials.

A senior US official said the move also aims to deter further North Korean involvement in Russia's war on Ukraine, which was launched in February 2022.

Previously, Washington opposed Ukraine using the long-range ATACMS against Russian targets, citing concerns over potential Kremlin retaliation.

The missiles, with a range of 300 kilometers (186 miles) and GPS-guided accuracy, provide significant firepower.

The Kremlin has yet to respond to this development.

Biden’s decision marks a shift in US policy amid growing global complexities in the Ukraine conflict and takes place some two months before he is set to leave office, on Jan. 20.

His successor in the Oval Office, former President Donald Trump, has signaled he is likely to cut off further military aid to Ukraine, leaving it at a steep disadvantage in fighting off its much larger neighbor.

Trump has also pledged a quick end to the war, though what methods he may use to do this are not known.