The Trump administration's decision to maintain restrictions on Ukraine's use of American-made Army Tactical Missile Systems, known as ATACMS, sends exactly the wrong message to Moscow at a time when Russia is actively supporting Iranian strikes on U.S. forces, defense analyst Ryan Evans has argued in War on the Rocks.
As "Hvylya" reported, citing Evans's analysis, the restrictions remain in place even after earlier policy changes opened the door for some cross-border use. Evans contended that if Russia is broadening the war by backing Iranian attacks, Washington should not be preserving "Russian military infrastructure, air bases, launch sites, and fuel depots simply because they sit across an internationally recognized border."
The analyst called on the White House to remove all restrictions on Ukraine's use of American-supplied weapons, emphasizing that he was not advocating for new weapons shipments but rather allowing Ukraine to deploy what it already possesses to full effect. He argued that by maintaining de facto safe zones within Russian territory, the United States has allowed Moscow to interfere in multiple theaters without facing consequences.
Evans noted that Trump has not abandoned the cautious approach inherited from his predecessor when pressuring Moscow. In some respects, he wrote, the administration has made it worse by "acceding, at times, to Putin's narratives and justifications." Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly snapped at the E.U. foreign policy chief that the United States was "doing the best we can to end the war" — a claim Evans directly challenged.
Critics of a more aggressive posture may argue that expanding Ukraine's strike capabilities risks unnecessary escalation in Europe, Evans acknowledged. But he countered that Moscow has already expanded the conflict's scope by providing targeting assistance and drones to Iranian forces, undermining the case for restraint now that Russian intelligence is actively helping Tehran strike American assets.
Earlier, "Hvylya" reported how Zelensky responded to American criticism and revealed previously undisclosed details of security negotiations.