Months after the influx of requests from Ukrainian officials, amid the Ukrainian forces’ retreat in the east against Russian forces, it appears that the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has begun to consider supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles.
U.S. officials revealed that Washington is considering supplying the Ukrainians with new powerful long-range ballistic missiles of the ATACMS type, which would allow Ukraine to strike deeper inside the Crimea Peninsula controlled by Russia, according to NBC News reported on Tuesday.
Hesitation for Two Years:
The Biden administration had refused over the past two years to send long-range missiles, fearing their use to strike Crimea or inside Russia, which could prompt Russian President Vladimir Putin to escalate the conflict.
It is noted that in late last year, the United States began supplying Ukraine with tactical missile systems, known as ATACMS, but so far, only old medium-range systems have been provided.
However, U.S. funding for weapons shipments remains uncertain due to allies of former President Donald Trump, the Republicans in Congress.
Last week, the Senate approved a foreign aid package worth $95 billion for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
But it is not yet clear whether the Republican-controlled House of Representatives will vote on this measure.
These leaks come after Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba confirmed last Saturday, during the Munich Security Conference, the urgent need for more weapons and military aid for his country.
He also warned Europeans that the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the city of Avdiivka in the east of the country means that Russian forces are now just a few kilometers from European countries.
Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, the United States has emerged as the top provider of foreign aid to Ukraine, marking the first time a European country has received such significant support from the U.S. since the Marshall Plan after World War II. The Biden administration, along with the U.S. Congress, has directed over $75 billion in assistance to Ukraine, encompassing humanitarian, financial, and military support. This aid has been crucial in supporting various Ukrainian sectors, including refugees, law enforcement, and independent media, with a significant portion being military-related. The aid has been instrumental in providing Ukraine with weapons systems, training, and intelligence necessary to defend against Russia’s military might. However, the continuation of this support faced uncertainties due to political challenges both in the United States and the European Union towards the end of 2023.
The Department of Defense (DoD) has played a significant role in coordinating this aid, with Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III actively engaging with Ukrainian officials to discuss security assistance priorities and the situation on the ground. The DoD has announced numerous tranches of security assistance to meet Ukraine’s critical defense needs, including air defense capabilities, artillery ammunition, anti-tank weapons, and more. These efforts are part of a broader commitment by the U.S. to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence in the face of Russian aggression.
The aid package passed by Congress includes about $19 billion for military support, not all of which is directly transferred to Ukraine. Some funds are allocated for replenishing U.S. stocks of weapons sent to Ukraine. The package also includes humanitarian and economic aid. The legislation increases the president’s drawdown authority, allowing for the provision of defense equipment and services to Ukraine and allies from existing U.S. inventories, with separate appropriations needed to replenish these stocks. In total, Congress approved $66 billion in aid to support Ukraine in 2023, encompassing security assistance, military equipment transfers, and other military and humanitarian programs.
