This is reported by Reuters citing its own sources.
Intelligence suggests that a nuclear strike by Russia is unlikely, despite "increasingly belligerent statements" from Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
However, the agency's sources believe that Russia will likely "expand its campaign of provocations" against European targets to intensify pressure on the West due to its support for Kyiv.
"Assessments have been consistent: ATACMS will not change Russia's nuclear plans," said a source.
U.S. officials state that intelligence has aided the contentious debates within the Biden administration in recent months regarding whether Washington should allow Ukraine to use American weapons amid concerns over escalation and uncertainty about Putin's response.
According to sources, Biden changed his mind due to North Korea's entry into the conflict.
Some American officials now believe that concerns about escalation, including nuclear fears, have been exaggerated. However, they emphasize that the overall situation in Ukraine remains dangerous.
On November 17, the New York Times, citing American officials, reported that U.S. President Joe Biden has authorized Ukrainian forces to use long-range ATACMS missiles for strikes on Russian territory. This was later reported by the Reuters news agency.
As explained by the sources to the journalists, the authorization to use ATACMS was a response to Russia's decision to involve North Korean troops in the war against Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelensky indirectly confirmed this information, noting that "the missiles will speak for themselves."
On November 19, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported the destruction of a Russian arsenal in the Bryansk region, belonging to the Main Rocket and Artillery Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defense. Ukrainian media, citing their own sources, stated that it was hit using ATACMS missiles.
The following day, November 20, Bloomberg reported on the first use of Franco-British Storm Shadow cruise missiles for strikes against Russia.
Meanwhile, Russian leader Vladimir Putin signed a decree approving an updated nuclear doctrine for Russia. His spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that if the Armed Forces of Ukraine use Western non-nuclear missiles against Russia, then Russia, according to the new doctrine, could respond with a nuclear strike.