Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to begin firing US-supplied rockets deep into Russia – as Sir Keir Starmer prepares to push for “additional support” to kyiv at the G20 summit.

Mr Biden’s policy change means Kyiv will now be able to use Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) for long range attacks, two US officials told Sky News’ US partner network, NBC News.

Ukraine plans to carry out its first such attacks in the coming days, the sources said, without revealing details due to operational security concerns.

The United States eased restrictions on the use of ATACMS, which have a range of up to 190 miles, after Russia began deploying North Korean ground troops to complement its own strengths in the conflict.

The development was condemned by Biden officials as a possible expansion of the war.

Follow the last one: Live updates from the war in Ukraine

The son of the president-elect Donald Trump criticized the decision to allow Ukraine to fire deep into Russia.

Donald Trump Jr wrote on social media platform …Fools!”

The decision by the outgoing Biden administration comes amid concern over the level of support the Trump White House may be willing to extend to Ukraine.

Mr Trump has previously pledged to limit US support for Ukraine and end its war with Russia.

In an evening speech after kyiv received permission to fire deep into Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: “Today there is a lot of talk in the media about the permission we will receive for our respective actions. But strikes are not done with words. things are not announced. The missiles will speak for themselves. »

Last September, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that if the United States lifted the ban on the use of long-range missiles, it would be considered NATO’s “direct participation” in the war.

He added: “This, of course, will significantly change the very essence, the very nature of the conflict.”

Separately, the British Prime Minister said he had “no intention” of speaking with the Russian president as world leaders gather for the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro.

Mr Putin will not attend the two-day summit which opens on Monday after saying in October that his presence would “disrupt the normal work of this forum”. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will attend instead.

This will take place a few days later German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with Putin in what was the Russian leader’s first publicly announced conversation with the sitting leader of a major Western power in nearly two years.

Asked if he planned to make a similar call, Sir Keir said: “That’s a question which depends on who Chancellor Scholz speaks to. I have no intention of speaking to Putin. “

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Speaking to reporters on his way to the summit, he added: “We are approaching the 1,000th day of this conflict on Tuesday.

“This represents 1,000 days of Russian aggression, 1,000 days of enormous impact and sacrifice for the Ukrainian people and recently we saw the arrival of North Korean troops working with the Russians, which has serious implications.

“I think on the one hand it shows Russia’s desperation, but it has serious implications for European security… and for Indo-Pacific security and that’s why I think we need to redouble efforts to strengthen our support for Ukraine and for Ukraine, this is one of my priorities for the G20.

“There must be full support for as long as necessary and that is certainly a priority on my agenda, strengthening that additional support for Ukraine.”

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The latest developments come after Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine on Sunday, with Mr Zelenskyy saying Moscow had launched a total of 120 missiles and 90 drones.

This large-scale attack, which left at least eight dead, targeted energy infrastructure across Ukraine overnight and caused emergency power cuts.

Hours later, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air defense units had destroyed a drone heading toward the city.