The US is reportedly preparing to approve the shipment of longer-range missiles equipped with cluster munitions to Ukraine, according to Reuters. This marks a significant shift in policy, as Washington has previously rejected Ukraine’s requests for such weapons out of concern that they could be used to strike deep inside Russian territory.
Unnamed US officials informed Reuters on Monday that the White House is close to authorizing the transfer of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) or Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles, or both. There is no precise timeline for a final decision, but these missiles could potentially be included in the next weapons shipment to Ukraine as early as this week.
If approved, the ATACMS missiles would have a range of 190 miles (306 km), making them the longest-range US system supplied to Ukraine thus far. The GMLRS missiles, on the other hand, have a range of 45 miles (72 km). Both types of missiles can be equipped with cluster bombs, a capability that has been provided by the US in previous arms packages.
The Ukrainian government has persistently requested longer-range missiles throughout its conflict with Russia. However, such requests have been denied due to concerns about striking targets within Russian territory, including Crimea. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan previously suggested that supplying ATACMS missiles could increase the risk of a major conflict, saying that the president is not prepared to provide that level of capability. However, it appears that the US administration has since reversed course.
One of the reasons for the change in policy is the discovery of an excess number of ATACMS missiles in US inventories. While the White House previously cited a shortage of these missiles as a reason for their non-transfer, officials have now stated that there are more available than originally assessed.
The proposed arms shipment would draw from existing US stockpiles under the Presidential Drawdown Authority. Since February 2022, the Biden administration has approved nearly $44 billion in weapons for Ukraine, in addition to billions more provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
Cluster munitions, which the proposed missiles could potentially carry, consist of smaller explosive submunitions designed to target personnel and light vehicles. However, these weapons pose risks due to the presence of undetonated “duds” that can remain live in former conflict areas for many years. More than 120 nations, including most NATO members, have banned cluster bombs. However, the US, Russia, and Ukraine have not signed the international treaty prohibiting their use.
Russia has consistently criticized Western arms deliveries to Ukraine, arguing that they could escalate the conflict and prolong the fighting. Russia’s deputy envoy to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, recently warned that anything could happen in the intense proxy standoff between NATO and Russia.
In conclusion, the US government is reportedly on the verge of approving the shipment of longer-range missiles equipped with cluster munitions to Ukraine. This represents a significant policy change after months of hesitation and could have profound implications for the ongoing conflict with Russia.
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