Biden to send long-range missiles to Kiev after refusal: Politico
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Politico reports that the US will supply Ukraine with Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) in the upcoming weeks.
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ATACMS missile is fired during a joint military drill between the US and South Korea at an undisclosed location in South Korea, on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022 (AP)
During Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the White House earlier this week, US President Joe Biden promised the Ukrainian President to deliver a number of long-range missiles, Politico reported citing two anonymous US officials.
The report adds that the United States will be delivering Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to Ukraine in the upcoming weeks. The Ukrainians have long requested the ATACMS as they have a range of 70 to 300 km, which would be useful to strike deep within Russian lines.
White House officials, however, argue that the ATACMS won't switch the tide of the war in favor of Ukraine. So far, the war has been an artillery battle and advances have been measured in feet, not miles.
Or, at least, that was the prevailing sentiment earlier in the week, wherein White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the US President rejected a request for longer-range ATACMS missiles but was set to announce a new arms package, which would include "significant air defense capabilities."
Clearing mines consumes soldiers' efforts, hampering their ability to execute rapid maneuvers to recapture territory. US officials said the recently provided missiles will support Ukraine's objectives, but they will not be game changers.
The report notes that the missiles will add to the mounting pressure that Ukraine has been exerting on Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Crimea.
Furthermore, the time variable complicates the scenario. US and European military officials have assessed that Ukraine has a limited window of a few more weeks to achieve critical goals in its counteroffensive before the onset of winter, which will make fighting more challenging and render the overall dynamic of the battle more static.
"There's still a reasonable amount of time, probably about 30 to 45 days' worth of fighting weather left," Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Mark Milley said recently. "Then the rains will come in; it will become very muddy, and it will be very difficult to maneuver."
The delivery of ATACMS, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, comes in light of London and Paris' hesitance to continue supplying Kiev with long-range cruise missiles (Storm Shadow and SCALP respectively).
Read more: US likely to send Kiev long-range missiles capable of striking Russia
Moreover, this is accompanied by Ukraine fearing a loss of aid from its Western allies. Zelensky warned Thursday that Kiev could lose the war if the US cuts its direct billion-dollar worth assistance to Ukraine despite having been promised "significant" new air defense weapons.
Sullivan told Zelensky, according to AFP, that he remained "of the view that when all is said and done... there will be strong bipartisan support to continue funding Ukraine."
Zelensky noted that Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, had given him a discreet welcome amid internal Republican squabble vis-à-vis the monetary aid being spent on Ukraine that could be better invested in the US and alongside its border.
Media reports pointed out that the Biden administration is planning to unveil a military assistance package worth $325 million for Ukraine.
This package is expected to encompass additional provisions such as cluster munitions, 155mm artillery shells, Avenger air defense systems, stinger defense systems, Javelin anti-tank missiles, and GMLRS rockets designed for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), among other items.
Read more: Lula to Zelensky: Military option will not solve Ukraine conflict
