US Prepares Tactical Missiles For Ukraine
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – U.S. President Joe Biden’s White House is reportedly planning to send long-range tactical missiles to Ukraine as it is suffering setbacks in its battle against Russia’s invading military.
The missile could be delivered as soon as the U.S. Congress approves a new funding package, two unnamed officials told broadcaster NBC News.
They were quoted as saying that the White House would send a variant of the missiles – known as ATACMS (army tactical missile systems) – if the Senate approves a new $60 billion aid package.
However, the package is being held up by congressional Republicans.
The report came as Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, warned Russia was exploiting delays in aid to Ukraine.
Kyiv says Ukraine urgently needs long-range missiles and other ammunition to repel Russian troops as the country nears its third year of war amid battle losses and shrinking foreign aid.
“Unfortunately, now they prevail in the air,” said Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Tuesday during a visit to Ukraine.
FRONT LINE CONSEQUENCES
“Unfortunately, this leads to some consequences from the front line. But I should say that we have no refuses from our partners to supply military equipment to Ukraine,” he added.
Shmyhal’s remarks came as ammunition shortages and limited manpower are causing Ukraine some severe losses on the battlefield.
On Sunday, Russian troops captured Avdiivka, a strategic Ukrainian city to access the industrial Donbas region, marking their biggest success since the fall of Bakhmut in May.
Despite the losses, support from the West has been delayed over growing costs as U.S. legislators in Washington continued to wrangle over the military aid package for Ukraine.
Kyiv hopes it will soon receive the ATACMS as their manufacturer says the long-range, guided missiles with a maximum range of 300 kilometers (186 miles) give commanders immediate firepower to shape the battlespace.
The “conventional surface-to-surface artillery weapon system is capable of striking targets well beyond the range of existing Army cannons, rockets, and other missiles,” added Lockheed Martin Corporation, the defense firm producing ATACMS.
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