Lawmakers in both parties are generally offering support for President Biden's decision to authorize a major shift in U.S. policy to allow Ukraine to use long-range U.S. missiles to attack sites in Russia.

The escalatory move came less than two weeks after President-elect Trump defeated Vice President Harris in the presidential election. The incoming president's most vocal supporters on Capitol Hill have been much less enthusiastic to support Ukraine, and Donald Trump Jr. suggested Biden's decision could trigger a third world war.

But key figures in both parties said they thought the stronger U.S. policy was to back Ukraine's ability to attack the Kremlin forces in Russia, particularly now that North Korean troops have also arrived on the scene.

“It’s high time we do this and help Ukraine push [Russia] back and be victorious,” Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) said.

Republicans say the move came too late.

“Better late than never, but it was late,” said Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “I’ve been urging the administration to untie their hands for two years, and every weapons system they drag their feet and then they finally approve it. ... Let them use everything we’re giving them. Stop putting restrictions on them.”

The policy change spurred Moscow to lower the threshold for nuclear weapons use, renewing fears of a serious escalation in the war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin updated his nuclear doctrine Tuesday to say an attack on Russia with conventional weapons from a nonnuclear state, but with the support........

© The Hill