Zelenskyy calls on U.S. to provide Ukraine with longer-range ATACMS

During a meeting with the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Republican Michael Johnson, Zelenskyy raised the issue of the need for supplying Ukraine with ATACMS missiles with an extended operational radius.

Sources indicate that the United States had previously supplied Ukrainian Armed Forces with ATACMS missiles of shorter range, which have already been successfully deployed by Ukrainian soldiers.

Politico also notes that in recent weeks, Republicans have been urging U.S. President Joe Biden to provide Ukraine with missiles of longer range, enabling Ukrainian forces to strike Russian targets at a greater distance.

ATACMS for Ukraine

In the fall of 2023, Ukrainian military targeted occupant airfields in Luhansk and Berdiansk. Information emerged in the media suggesting that the Ukrainian Armed Forces used American long-range ATACMS missiles for the attack, provided in limited quantities.

Subsequently, the U.S. confirmed this information, specifying that the missiles provided to Ukrainian forces had a range of up to 165 kilometers.

Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, said that the supply of ATACMS to the country would be ongoing.

Zelenskyy's visit to the U.S.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Washington earlier this week amid a deadlock in Congress over the approval of aid funding for Ukraine. Republicans are blocking the issue, demanding a reinforcement of border protection with Mexico instead.

During his visit, Zelenskyy met with leaders of both the Democratic and Republican parties in Congress, as well as with Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Michael Johnson.

Zelenskyy also met with Biden at the White House, more details on which can be found in RBC-Ukraine coverage.

The U.S. also announced the provision of a new military aid package to Ukraine worth $200 million.