Trump Refutes Missile Approval Claims
President Donald Trump has publicly denied a recent news report alleging that the United States had approved Ukraine's use of long-range missiles for strikes deep within Russian territory. The denial came on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, following a report published by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
The Wall Street Journal's Report
According to The Wall Street Journal's report, which cited unnamed U.S. officials, the Trump administration had quietly lifted a key restriction on Ukraine's ability to use certain Western-supplied long-range missiles to target sites inside Russia. The article specifically mentioned British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which possess a range of over 180 miles (approximately 300 km) and rely on American targeting data. The WSJ report further suggested that this alleged policy shift involved transferring oversight for approving such attacks from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the top U.S. general in Europe.
President Trump's Direct Rebuttal
In response to the report, President Trump took to his Truth Social network to issue a strong denial. He stated, 'The Wall Street Journal story on the USA's approval of Ukraine being allowed to use long range missiles deep into Russia is FAKE NEWS!' Trump further emphasized the lack of U.S. involvement, adding, 'The US has nothing to do with those missiles, wherever they may come from, or what Ukraine does with them!'
Context of Long-Range Missile Use
The denial comes amidst ongoing discussions and developments regarding Ukraine's use of long-range weaponry. Just one day prior to Trump's statement, Ukraine reportedly utilized a British-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missile to successfully strike a munitions and rocket fuel facility in the Russian city of Bryansk. Historically, former President Joe Biden's administration had, towards its end, approved Ukraine's limited use of both Storm Shadow and U.S. ATACMS missiles for attacks on targets within Russia. However, the current Trump administration had previously instituted a vetting process requiring top-level approval for cross-border strikes involving U.S. missiles or those assisted by U.S. targeting data.
5 Comments
Noir Black
Finally, some common sense. No escalation needed.
KittyKat
Regardless of who approved what, Ukraine clearly needs to be able to strike military targets to defend itself. However, the international community must weigh the risks of allowing strikes deep into Russian territory.
Michelangelo
While Trump denies the report, the ongoing debate about Ukraine's targeting capabilities highlights a real diplomatic tightrope. Escalation risks are high, but so is the need for Ukraine to defend itself effectively.
Leonardo
He's just protecting Putin. Shameful stance.
Raphael
Trump's strong denial might be about managing perceptions more than facts on the ground. The reality is that long-range weapons are a game-changer, and their use requires careful consideration of both military effectiveness and geopolitical consequences.