Trump signals possible shift in policy on Ukraine’s use of long-range US weapons Exclusive by WSJ

President Donald Trump reportedly told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he may be open to lifting certain restrictions on the use of U.S.-made weapons.

During a meeting on the sidelines of this week’s United Nations General Assembly, Trump indicated he could allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles inside Russian territory for the first time. The contents of the September 23 meeting were confirmed to The Wall Street Journal by a senior U.S. official and a Ukrainian official.

The discussion followed Trump’s lengthy speech to world leaders in New York, in which he criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin for “bad leadership” and appeared to reconsider his previous stance on Ukraine retaking territory occupied by Kremlin forces.

“It shows you what leadership is, what bad leadership can do to a country. The only question now is how many lives will be needlessly lost on both sides,” Trump said in his address.

During their meeting, Zelenskyy requested permission to use Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to strike targets inside Russia. The Trump administration has blocked Ukraine from firing ATACMS since spring. According to officials, Trump did not outright reject the proposal but also did not commit to lifting the U.S. ban, which would enable Ukraine to strike deeper inside Russian territory.

Zelenskyy also asked for Tomahawk cruise missiles, which have a range of approximately 900 to 1,500 miles, according to Axios. The administration is reportedly considering granting the request, along with providing other long-range weapons.

If approved, these requests could indicate a broader change in Trump’s approach to the war in Ukraine. He had previously criticised Zelenskyy, telling him in a February meeting that he was “gambling with World War Three.”

Following the speech and the meeting, Trump posted on Truth Social: “Putin and Russia are in BIG Economic trouble, and this is the time for Ukraine to act. After seeing the Economic trouble (the war) is causing Russia, I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form.”

Granting such weaponry would theoretically enable Kyiv to expel Russian forces from roughly 20 per cent of its territory, including Crimea, which Moscow has occupied since 2014. Such a move would represent a remarkable reversal. Trump has previously suggested that Kyiv should consider ceding territory to secure peace.

By Tamilla Hasanova