The US gave Ukraine permission to hit Russia with long-range missiles, as it had long wanted. But the delay meant Russia was able to prepare.

President Joe Biden recently approved Ukraine’s use of US long-range missiles into Russia. FOX 5's Tom Fitzgerald checks in with global affairs analyst Rebecca Grant about what is happening in the Russia - Ukraine war.

Ukraine says Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile, one carrying a conventional warhead, toward it. ICBMs can also be used to launch nuclear weapons, and Russian President Vladimir Putin recently lowered the bar for using nuclear weapons in what appeared to be a threat to the U.S. and its NATO allies.

President Vladimir Putin has updated Russia’s nuclear doctrine, two days after his US counterpart Joe Biden granted Ukraine permission to strike targets deep inside Russia with American-made weapons.

The White House defended President Joe Biden‘s recent decision to allow Ukraine to strike in Russia using U.S.-provided weapons but declined to clarify what specifically changed the president’s mind.

"Right now, they (Ukrainian soldiers) have the ability to use ATACMS to defend themselves in an immediate-need basis. Understandably, that's taken place in and around Kursk Oblast," U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told journalists on Nov.