The United States has relaxed missile restrictions on Ukraine, enhancing its ability to strike Russian targets.

According to Jinse Finance and the Wall Street Journal, the Trump administration recently lifted a restriction that allows Ukraine to use certain long-range missiles provided by Western allies, which will enhance Ukraine's ability to strike targets within Russia. U.S. officials said on Wednesday that this move aims to increase pressure on Russia. On Tuesday, the Ukrainian military used British-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles to strike an explosives and rocket fuel production facility in Russia's Bryansk. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced that the strike “successfully penetrated Russia's air defenses.” The use of Storm Shadow missiles by Ukraine did not change the battlefield situation, as these missiles have a range far lower than the U.S. Tomahawk missiles, with the former having a range of over 180 miles (about 290 kilometers) and the latter having a range of over 1,000 miles (about 1,600 kilometers). U.S. officials indicated that they expect Ukraine to conduct more cross-border attacks using Storm Shadow missiles. Following the announcement, international oil and gold prices rose.