By Robert Birsel,Shane Croucher
Copyright newsweek
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.
Why It Matters
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 invasion, to put greater pressure on the Kremlin to make peace.
But 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.
Trump has been trying to end the war in Ukraine but he has grown increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s continuation and intensification of the conflict, even after the two leaders met for a summit in Alaska on August 15. In a marked change from his earlier position, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on September 23 that he thinks Ukraine, with the help of European NATO allies, can win back the territory seized by Russia.
A M142 HIMARS launches a rocket on the Bakhmut direction on May 18, 2023 in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. Ukraine received the HIMARS as part of international military assistance programs to help defend itself against the ongoing Russian invasion.
What To Know
“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.
Ukraine has long appealed against U.S. restrictions on the use of long-range weapons.
Its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, on Monday reiterated his call for more pressure on Russia to end the war.
“During these weeks, while the U.N. General Assembly was taking place, Russia literally used every day, every hour to strike Ukraine,” Zelensky said on X. “They have spurned all genuine peace proposals and deserve truly tough pressure.”
What People Are Saying
Bacon said on X: “Putin keeps bombing Ukrainian cities … every night. We must take action now to pass secondary sanctions against Russia and to send high-end lethal weapons to Ukraine.”
Zelensky said on X: “We also count on strong steps from the United States. We discussed with President Trump what could truly push Russia to change its position and stop the war. The world has tools that can work in a genuinely peacemaking way.”
What Happens Next
Kellogg said that Zelensky has asked the U.S. in recent days for Tomahawk missiles, and it was up to Trump to decide on that request.
Update 9/29/2025 4:25 a.m. ET: This story has been updated to include more information.
