According to US media, US Vice President Joe Biden intends to provide Ukraine with upgraded long-range missiles to aid Kiev in its ongoing counteroffensive.
According to US authorities with knowledge of the situation, Ukraine will get some ATACMS missiles with a maximum range of 190 miles (300 km).
As a result, Kyiv would be able to strike Russian targets far from the front line.
On Friday, at least two Ukrainian missiles struck the command center of Russia’s Black Sea fleet in occupied Crimea.
The BBC was informed by a Ukrainian military source that British and French-made Storm Shadow missiles were used in the Sevastopol port strike.
The range of these missiles is just over 150 miles.
US to provide Kiev with long-range ATACMS missiles during the Ukraine war
Unnamed US officials are quoted by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal as saying that Vice President Biden informed his counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine that Kyiv will get “a small number” of ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) missiles. On Thursday, the two presidents met at the White House.
The weaponry will be sent in the upcoming weeks, the WSJ writes.
The Washington Post also reported that Ukraine might receive ATACMS equipped with cluster bomblets rather than single warheads, citing three sources involved with the discussions.
The reports have not been formally confirmed by either the US or Ukraine.
Following the Biden-Zelensky meetings, Washington announced a fresh round of $325 million (£265 million) in military supplies for Ukraine, including artillery and ammunition. The Abrams tanks from America will arrive in Kiev the following week.
On the ATACMS problem, both presidents have been evasive.
On Friday, Mr. Zelensky stated during a visit to Canada, “I believe that most of what we were discussing with President Biden yesterday… we will be able to reach an agreement.”
Indeed, it’s just a matter of time. Not everything is reliant upon Ukraine, he continued.
Kyiv has been urging ATACMS to intensify its brutal and murderous counteroffensive in the south for months.
According to the report, this would force Moscow to relocate crucial supply routes, command posts, and other logistical hubs far behind the front line, making it more difficult to replenish troops and armaments.
According to Ukraine, Russian positions in the southern, seized parts of Ukraine, including Crimea, would be particularly exposed.
In February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the Biden administration was first hesitant to arm Ukraine.
But since Kyiv received Patriot air defense missiles and high-precision Himars long-range rocket launchers, its position has drastically changed.
Due to concerns that the ATACMS could exacerbate an already imminent direct conflict with a nuclear-armed Russia, President Biden has been reticent to support them.
