US working toward providing Ukraine with new long-range ATACMS variant - NBC
Photo: ATACMS (army mil)
The Biden administration is working on providing Ukraine with new powerful long-range ballistic missiles, according to NBC News.
At the end of last year, the United States began supplying Ukraine with tactical missile systems known as ATACMS, but so far, they have only supplied old ATACMS of medium range. Now, the United States is leaning towards sending a longer-range version of the missile, officials said. This will allow Ukraine to strike further within the controlled Crimea peninsula.
Defense department representatives told the publication that the US has a limited supply of ATACMS and is unlikely to send them to Ukraine without money to replenish American stocks.
According to two American officials, if Congress approves increased funding for Ukraine, the United States may include long-range ATACMS systems in one of the first packages of military aid paid for with these funds.
The US also has ammunition and artillery ready for immediate shipment to Ukraine if funding is approved, officials added.
US assistance to Ukraine
Last year, US President Joe Biden asked Congress for over $100 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, as well as for securing the American border. Republicans refused to support the initiative. They demanded tougher border security measures. Thus, assistance to Ukraine became dependent on the position of Republican Party members.
Recently, the US Senate began considering a bill to aid Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan without funds for the border. Already on February 3, the senators supported it.
For the bill to take effect, it still needs to pass the House of Representatives and be signed by President Joe Biden.
