Transfer of ATACMS missiles to Ukraine is no longer as risky - US top general
File photo: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff US General Charles Brown (Getty Images)
The transfer of long-range ATACMS missiles from the United States to Ukraine is no longer as risky as it was before, states the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States, General Charles Brown.
In a conversation with journalists, Brown stated that the risk of escalation during the transfer of ATACMS missiles to Ukraine is not as high as it might have initially seemed. In 2022, Russia publicly stated that providing such weapons to Ukraine would supposedly cross a "red line."
At that time, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, stated that people in academic circles, analytical centers, or other forms of analysis refer to this as "declaratory policy."
Russia attempted to intimidate the West
This refers to statements made by high-ranking officials discussing what they will or will not do if certain actions occur.
"Top military officials, speaking on background, have pointed to Russian military doctrine specifically as it relates so-called existential risk, saying that giving Ukraine such weapons could compel a nuclear response from Russia, or spur it to attack a NATO partner," the source writes.
Brown's position
A US General stated that Russia's restrained response to a series of recent attacks by Ukrainian drones deep into Russian territory allowed the Pentagon to adjust its risk analysis for sending ATACMS.
"Those are the things that we…pay attention to. You know, what is the likelihood of escalation based on…different capabilities and different actions," he said.
ATACMS for Ukraine
Last year Ukrainian soldiers struck Russian airfields in Luhansk and Berdyansk. Information emerged in the media that the Armed Forces of Ukraine used American long-range ATACMS missiles for the strike, which were provided in small quantities. Later, the US confirmed this information, specifying that the missiles provided to our soldiers had a range of up to 165 kilometers.
As early as October 2023, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated that the supply of ATACMS to Ukraine would be ongoing.
Recently, the American agency NBC News reported that the White House is working to provide Ukraine with new powerful long-range ballistic missiles.
Additionally, the American agency Politico wrote that the new package of military aid to Ukraine from the US could include several long-range ATACMS missiles. However, these missiles were not included in the new American aid package.
