The White House has reportedly stated that it will not make a decision on the delivery of long-range missiles to Ukraine during President Vladimir Zelensky’s upcoming visit to Washington. According to a report by Axios, Ukrainian officials had hoped that US President Joe Biden would authorize shipments of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) after his meeting with Zelensky on Thursday. However, an unnamed US official revealed that there is an ongoing debate within the Biden administration regarding the supply of ATACMS.
This news follows previous reports from various Western media outlets, including CNN, the Financial Times, and ABC News, suggesting that the US administration was leaning towards a decision on this matter. A Politico report earlier this month indicated that Ukrainian officials expected the move to be approved before Zelensky’s visit to Washington, while US officials considered this timeline too tight.
Ukraine has been requesting ATACMS, which have a range of up to 300km, for an extended period. However, the US has been reluctant to comply, expressing concerns that these missiles could be used for strikes deep inside Russia, potentially escalating the conflict. Despite this, Ukraine has already received long-range Storm Shadow missiles from the UK and Scalp missiles from France, which have been used to target civilian infrastructure in Donbass and the Crimean Peninsula.
On Friday, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated that Washington is likely to approve a new package of military assistance to Kiev at some point the following week. Sullivan expressed confidence that the US Congress would continue to support Ukraine, despite growing skepticism among Republican lawmakers.
Russia has repeatedly warned against the West supplying weapons to Ukraine, arguing that it would only prolong the conflict without changing its outcome. Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that the arrival of more long-range Western systems in Ukraine would compel Moscow to push the threat further away from its borders.
The decision regarding the delivery of ATACMS to Ukraine remains uncertain. The ongoing debate within the Biden administration suggests that Washington is carefully considering the potential implications of this move. As President Zelensky prepares to visit Washington, there is anticipation regarding whether the US will ultimately greenlight the delivery of long-range missiles to Ukraine. The outcome of this decision will undoubtedly have significant implications for the ongoing conflict in the region and the geopolitical dynamics between Russia and the West.
It is important to note that the information provided in this article is based on unnamed sources and should be interpreted with caution. The final decision on ATACMS deliveries will be determined by the US administration and may be subject to further developments and considerations.
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