BRUSSELS, November 18. /TASS/. The Netherlands regrets that the United States’ decision to authorize the use of its ATACMS ballistic missiles for strikes inside Russia has been leaked to the press, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said upon arriving at the meeting of EU foreign and defense ministers in Brussels.

According to the top Dutch diplomat, this decision is an "adequate response," including to the presence of the North Korean military in Russia. At the same time, he expressed regret that the information has become public. "I’d have preferred this decision to have had a surprise effect," Veldkamp said.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands has repeatedly stated that it imposes no restrictions on the use or range of weapons, including F-16 fighter jets, the country is supplying to Kiev.

The New York Times reported on Sunday that US President Joe Biden had authorized the use of US-supplied ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles for strikes inside Russia. The newspaper noted that Biden’s decision came two months before he is set to vacate his office and marked "a major change in US policy."

Following this decision, the meeting in Brussels is expected to discuss lifting the ban on Ukraine’s use of EU- and NATO-supplied weapons for strikes inside Russia. Until now, EU countries have failed to agree on a common position on this matter, with each country making a decision independently.