Press Releases

Today, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner (OH-10) issued the following statement about the Biden Administration’s decision to reverse its ban on Ukraine using the Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to strike targets inside Russia: 

“Ukraine can’t properly defend itself if one hand is tied behind its back. Today’s news that the Biden Administration is finally allowing Ukraine to use some U.S.-provided ATACMS to strike limited targets within Russian territory is long overdue. For months, I have called on President Biden to remove these restrictions. President Biden should have listened to President Zelenskyy’s pleas much earlier.

“President Biden continues to impose restrictions on Ukraine that prevent Ukrainians from defending themselves and prevent this conflict from ending. This first step will put pressure on Vladimir Putin as President-elect Trump returns to the White House and works to end this war.”

Background:

In February 2024, Chairman Turner led a bipartisan CODEL to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, members of the Ukrainian Parliament, and senior intelligence officials to learn about the latest developments in the region.

In May 2024, Chairman Turner sent a bipartisan letter to Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urging the Biden Administration to expedite additional resources to Ukraine.

In June 2024, Chairman Turner sent a letter to Secretary Austin urging the Biden Administration to lift any ban on ATACMS and other long-range U.S.-supplied weapons to Ukraine.

In July 2024, Chairman Turner led a bipartisan CODEL to Kyiv, Ukraine, to conduct a series of meetings with senior officials in the region.

In September 2024, Chairman Turner sent a letter to President Biden urging the administration to lift the remaining restrictions on Ukraine’s use of U.S.-provided long-range systems, specifically Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), to strike deeper into Russian territory. 

In October 2024, Chairman Turner sent a letter to President Biden requesting that his administration brief the House Intelligence Committee about the movement of North Korean troops into Russian territory.