Nebraska Republican Representative Don Bacon accused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of “routinely” blocking President Donald Trump’s authorization of long-range Ukrainian strikes on Russia.
Newsweek has contacted the Department of Defense for comment outside of normal business hours.
Ukraine has sought Trump’s permission to use long-range American weapons to strike targets deep inside Russia, such as air bases and factories that are aiding Moscow’s ongoing invasion, to put greater pressure on the Kremlin to make peace.
The U.S. has been cautious about allowing Ukraine to use its long-range weapons against Russia, fearing it could escalate the conflict beyond control and risk sparking a direct Russia-NATO war.
“The White House authorized long-range Ukrainian strikes into [Russia]. But, the Pentagon routinely blocks,” Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general and member of the House Armed Services Committee, posted to X.
“Who is the Commander in Chief? The GOP criticized Biden for blocking Ukrainian long range strikes. Yet… SecDef Hegseth is doing the same. We want freedom to win.”
Bacon was sharing a clip of Trump’s Special Envoy for Ukraine General Keith Kellogg saying that “everybody should follow what the president says” because he was elected and is “the Commander in Chief, by the Constitution, and everybody falls in line.”
Kellogg, who was appearing on Fox News’ “The Sunday Briefing”, was asked by anchor Jacqui Heinrich to clarify if Trump had authorized Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons against Russia.
“I think reading what he has said, and reading what Vice President Vance has said, as well as Secretary Rubio, the answer is yes. Use the ability to hit deep. There are no such things as sanctuaries,” Kellogg said.
He said this is why he believes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked the U.S. in recent days for Tomahawk missiles.
This is a developing article. Updates to follow.