WASHINGTON

The Biden administration declined to comment Monday on reports suggesting that it has granted Ukraine authorization to use long-range US missiles to strike deep into the heart of Russia.

"I just don't have anything to provide right now, at this time on that, on those reports that you're referencing on long-range strikes," Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters.

The National Security Council also declined to comment on the reports.

Washington has previously delivered long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to Kyiv, but prevented the Ukrainian military from using them to strike targets deep inside Russia.

As Russia pounded the Ukrainian border city of Kharkiv in May, Biden authorized Ukraine to carry out strikes within Russian territory, a first during the course of the over two-year war, to prevent attacks emanating from near the Russia-Ukraine border, or retaliate against them.

The president recently expanded those authorities, allowing Ukraine to use US-supplied missiles for "limited strikes" deeper within Russian territory in a major policy shift, the Washington Post reported Sunday, citing two US officials.

The decision follows reports of North Korea sending troops to support Moscow’s war effort. 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.

Acknowledging the media reports, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his "Victory Plan" to strengthen Ukraine includes long-range capabilities for the military.

"Blows are not inflicted with words. Such things are not announced. The rockets will speak for themselves," he added.

In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the use of such long-range missiles would be viewed by Moscow as the "direct participation" of NATO countries in the Ukraine conflict.

It would "substantially change" the conflict, he said, specifying that “it will mean that NATO countries, the United States and European countries are fighting Russia".

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

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