US special envoy Keith Kellogg stated on Sunday that President Donald Trump may have already authorized Ukrainian long-range strikes within Russian territory, as Washington weighs the delivery of Tomahawk missiles.

Kellogg, speaking in Brussels on June 12, 2025, was asked about Trump’s recent remarks suggesting Ukraine could reclaim all lost territory and “maybe even go further.” The special envoy noted that while the final decision rests with Trump as commander-in-chief, Ukrainian forces have previously received approval for such operations.

Ukraine requires US permission to use American-supplied weapons against targets deep inside Russia. This precedent was set in November 2024 under President Joe Biden, shortly after Trump’s election victory. Kellogg emphasized that “sometimes the Ukrainians get some of these, sometimes they don’t.”

When pressed on Trump’s stance, Kellogg said, “I think, reading what he has said and what Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have stated, the answer is yes.” He added, “There are no such things as sanctuaries.”

Vance recently indicated that Trump is considering a renewed Ukrainian request for Tomahawk cruise missiles, which Kellogg said would enable deeper strikes into Russian territory. The Kremlin dismissed the potential impact of such deliveries, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov claiming no “wonder weapon” could alter the battlefield dynamic. He noted Ukrainian forces would require direct US involvement to operate Tomahawks, a scenario Moscow would view as a severe escalation.

The Ukrainian army’s pursuit of long-range strikes reflects its escalating efforts to challenge Russian positions, despite the risks of further entrenching regional conflict.