The United States, once again, moved to restrict Ukraine from using American-supplied long-range weapons against targets in Russia. According to reporting from the Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon quietly introduced new approval procedures in the spring that effectively block Kyiv from using U.S.-made Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS, for strikes deep into Russian territory.
The system — designed by Pentagon Undersecretary for Policy Elbridge Colby — gives Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth final authority on Ukraine’s requests to launch ATACMS. The missiles have a published range of about 190 miles and were first cleared for use against Russian targets in 2024 under then-President Joe Biden. That decision was essentially reversed with the start of the new approval system.
The restrictions also extend to certain European-provided systems, including Britain’s Storm Shadow cruise missile, which relies on U.S. intelligence for targeting data.
Trump and American ambiguity
President Donald Trump appeared to undercut his administration’s policy last week when he wrote on Truth Social, “It is very hard, if not impossible, to win a war without attacking an invader’s country.” He also criticized Biden for limiting Ukraine to the defensive use of U.S. weapons.
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Despite Trump’s public comments, White House officials stressed there is “no change in military posture in Russia-Ukraine at this time.” They acknowledged the president could choose to adjust or remove the Pentagon’s approval mechanism in the future, but no such decision has been made.
This is not the first time Washington has placed restrictions on Kyiv. ATACMS were withheld for nearly two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, and only later approved in limited numbers. The final batch authorized during Biden’s presidency arrived in Ukraine earlier this year, leaving Kyiv with what is thought to be a small remaining stockpile.
Domestically developed weapons
While U.S. and European systems remain among the most powerful in Ukraine’s arsenal, Kyiv is increasingly turning to homegrown alternatives to sustain long-range strike capabilities without Washington’s approval.
Ukrainian forces carried out multiple successful attacks on Russian oil facilities using domestically produced drones. Production of the FP-1, Kyiv’s answer to Iran’s Shahed drones, surged to thousands of units per month. These one-way attack drones, though relatively slow, have been credited with damaging Russian infrastructure and stretching Moscow’s defenses.
Maybe the most ambitious development, however, is the new Flamingo cruise missile. Designed by the Kyiv-based defense startup Fire Point, the missile went from concept to battlefield use in under nine months. It can carry a 2,500-pound warhead and strike targets up to 1,800 miles away, according to company officials.
Production has already begun, with output expected to reach 200 units per month soon. Fire Point executives emphasized that the Flamingo is entirely Ukrainian-made and resistant to Russian electronic warfare systems.
“Our first missiles were pink; all the early tests were pink,” Fire Point CEO Iryna Terekh told Politico, explaining that the name “Flamingo” stuck from an early manufacturing quirk. Despite its unusual origin, the weapon is now considered a major breakthrough in Ukraine’s effort to achieve strike independence.
“You don’t need a scary name for a missile that can fly 3,000 kilometers,” Terekh said. “The main goal is for a missile to be effective.”
Self-sufficiency is key
Ukraine’s defense industry has accelerated dramatically since 2022, fueled by necessity and limited Western support. Fire Point and other domestic firms are now producing weapons at an industrial scale, with Kyiv reportedly spending around $10 billion annually on local arms procurement.
The Pentagon’s restrictions, combined with uncertainty over future U.S. policy, may further push Ukraine toward self-reliance. As James Townsend, a former Pentagon official for NATO affairs, told the Wall Street Journal, “You don’t want to limit the Ukrainian ability to put pressure on the Russians.”
For now, Washington retains a veto over some of Ukraine’s most powerful weapons — while Kyiv presses ahead with systems that bypass American approval altogether.
