Despite the Kyiv government’s requests, as of July 22, the Biden administration still refuses to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles.
Back in May, Biden said for the first time that the ATACMS, or Army Tactical Missile System, are “still in play” regarding the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with Biden two weeks later, but no decision about the missiles had been reached during the discussion. Anonymous U.S. officials said that despite the growing public perception of a path towards approval, the U.S. policy on supplying Ukraine with the weapons did not change for months.
The ATACMS has a range of 190 miles, and Ukraine said that those missiles will be essential for destroying command posts in areas behind the front lines. “Without long-range weapons, it is difficult not only to carry out an offensive mission but also to conduct a defensive operation,” Zelensky said at a conference.
A main worry of the Pentagon is that Ukraine would attack Russian territory with the long-range missiles, which could escalate the conflict into a U.S.-Russian conflict. Russian officials in Moscow have publicly declared that it deems America even supplying the weapons to Ukraine a transgression.
Another pressing concern contributing to Biden’s refusal to deliver the missiles is that the U.S. military has a limited number of ATACMS. The exact number of the missiles is classified, but Lockheed Martin, a manufacturer of the missiles, has only made around 4,000 since production began. Most of the missiles are used by the U.S. army in combat, exercises, and testing, so few remain left over for Ukraine.
Although the United States currently refuses to send over long-range missiles, Britain and France have already shipped cruise missiles with a 140-mile range to Ukraine. “We are confident that these weapons will be used by Ukraine in accordance” with agreements “not to attack Russian soil,” a senior European official has stated. Still, despite refusal to send over missiles, the U.S. army has signed at least three contracts with Lockheed Martin for the production of ATACMS, all of which are for foreign sale. With a new supply of the weapons, the U.S. might change its stance on the matter.
Back in May, Biden said for the first time that the ATACMS, or Army Tactical Missile System, are “still in play” regarding the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with Biden two weeks later, but no decision about the missiles had been reached during the discussion. Anonymous U.S. officials said that despite the growing public perception of a path towards approval, the U.S. policy on supplying Ukraine with the weapons did not change for months.
The ATACMS has a range of 190 miles, and Ukraine said that those missiles will be essential for destroying command posts in areas behind the front lines. “Without long-range weapons, it is difficult not only to carry out an offensive mission but also to conduct a defensive operation,” Zelensky said at a conference.
A main worry of the Pentagon is that Ukraine would attack Russian territory with the long-range missiles, which could escalate the conflict into a U.S.-Russian conflict. Russian officials in Moscow have publicly declared that it deems America even supplying the weapons to Ukraine a transgression.
Another pressing concern contributing to Biden’s refusal to deliver the missiles is that the U.S. military has a limited number of ATACMS. The exact number of the missiles is classified, but Lockheed Martin, a manufacturer of the missiles, has only made around 4,000 since production began. Most of the missiles are used by the U.S. army in combat, exercises, and testing, so few remain left over for Ukraine.
Although the United States currently refuses to send over long-range missiles, Britain and France have already shipped cruise missiles with a 140-mile range to Ukraine. “We are confident that these weapons will be used by Ukraine in accordance” with agreements “not to attack Russian soil,” a senior European official has stated. Still, despite refusal to send over missiles, the U.S. army has signed at least three contracts with Lockheed Martin for the production of ATACMS, all of which are for foreign sale. With a new supply of the weapons, the U.S. might change its stance on the matter.
