The US doesn’t plan to ship to Ukraine any not long-distance missile systems capable of striking deep into Russian territory, President Biden explained on Monday, flatly rejecting the possibility after he was asked by reporters about the prospect of such deliveries.
“I won’t send anything that can fire into Russia,” Biden said at the White House.
Multiple US media outlets reported last week that Washington is preparing to step up the kind of weaponry it is offering Ukraine and was considering sending M270 MLRS and M142 HIMARS rocket systems, which can have a range of up to 500km.
This advanced weaponry, two versions of US-made rocket artillery systems that can fire the same types of rockets, is now the top request from Ukrainian officials and would have allowed Kyiv forces to strike deep into Russian territory and potentially target major cities.
The Biden administration was allegedly leaning toward sending the systems as part of a larger package of military and security assistance to Ukraine – which could be announced as soon as next week – but it has wavered the plan after concerns were raised within the National Security Council that Kyiv could use them to carry out offensive attacks inside Russia.
After the news on potentially sending the systems was published last Friday, Moscow warned that Washington will cross a red line if it sends the systems to Ukraine.
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev welcomed Biden’s announcement on Monday – though it leaves open the possibility Ukraine could be sent the advanced, long-range rocket systems without the longest-range rockets – as reasonable.
Anatoly Antonov, the Russian Ambassador to the US, expressed earlier hope that the Biden administration will not take such a provocative step that could further escalate the conflict and that common sense will prevail.
Be the first to comment