Official statements from the U.S. Department of Defense or credible news reports

Trump Opposes Ukraine's Use of ATACMS Missiles to Strike Russia, Citing Escalation

Dec 12, 2024, 01:16 PM

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has voiced strong opposition to Ukraine's use of American-made ATACMS long-range missiles to strike targets deep within Russia, arguing that such actions escalate the ongoing conflict. Trump's comments were made in an interview with Time magazine, where he criticized President Zelensky's 'stupid' decision to send missiles hundreds of miles into Russia, calling it a 'very big mistake' and questioning the rationale behind these actions. He emphasized that this approach only worsens the situation, leading to further escalation. Trump also indicated his intention to leverage U.S. assistance to Ukraine as a means to pressure both Kyiv and Moscow into negotiating an end to the conflict.