Despite pressure from the U.S. lawmakers such as congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina, and pleas from Kyiv, the Pentagon is refusing to send long range missiles to Ukraine. The Pentagon claims they don’t have enough to spare and that Ukraine doesn’t really need them.
However, the public believes that missiles will follow in the path of other weapons that were denied at the first request, but eventually given out during the 17 months of war.
In late May, Biden seemed to change his ‘no’ on missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he and Biden had spoken about the missiles, but no decisions had been made.
The Pentagon believes that Kyiv has other needs beside missiles, and worries that sending enough to Ukraine to make a difference on the battlefield would also impact the readiness of the U.S. for conflicts.Ukraine has said that the missles, with a range of 190 miles, are essential for destroying command posts and logistics areas behind Russian front lines.
When asked what is at the top of Ukraine’s list of security needs, Andriy Yermak, the head of Zelensky’s presidential office, said that they were waiting on the ATACMS which are the long-range guided missiles. Zelensky, at a news conference in Prague, said it is difficult to carry off missions and defense without long-range weapons.Hundreds of missiles are requested from the U.S.
The U.S. lawmakers are increasingly demanding that the Biden administration approve of the missiles, as well as other Ukraine supporters in the congress.Just last month, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a resolution for the U.S. to provide the missiles. They include funds to send the ATCMS to Ukraine.The administration has provided many reasons for holding back. Many centered on escalating a U.S.-Russia conflict.
Britain and France have supplied cruise missiles with a range of 140 miles. However, this range is still 50 miles away from that of the ATACMS.
Ukrainians believe that the ATACMS, each constant nearly one and a half million, would provide better capability then the cruise missiles.
However, the number of ATACMS is limited, and the most concerning for the U.S. military. Lockheed Martin has only made about 4,0000, and a lot of them have been used for testing, and combat. Also, almost 900 have been sold.The army has spent about a billion dollars for the ATACMS, which are in production of 500 per year.
The fate of these missiles are yet to be known. Whether they will be kept by the U.S. or sent to Ukraine.
However, the public believes that missiles will follow in the path of other weapons that were denied at the first request, but eventually given out during the 17 months of war.
In late May, Biden seemed to change his ‘no’ on missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he and Biden had spoken about the missiles, but no decisions had been made.
The Pentagon believes that Kyiv has other needs beside missiles, and worries that sending enough to Ukraine to make a difference on the battlefield would also impact the readiness of the U.S. for conflicts.Ukraine has said that the missles, with a range of 190 miles, are essential for destroying command posts and logistics areas behind Russian front lines.
When asked what is at the top of Ukraine’s list of security needs, Andriy Yermak, the head of Zelensky’s presidential office, said that they were waiting on the ATACMS which are the long-range guided missiles. Zelensky, at a news conference in Prague, said it is difficult to carry off missions and defense without long-range weapons.Hundreds of missiles are requested from the U.S.
The U.S. lawmakers are increasingly demanding that the Biden administration approve of the missiles, as well as other Ukraine supporters in the congress.Just last month, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a resolution for the U.S. to provide the missiles. They include funds to send the ATCMS to Ukraine.The administration has provided many reasons for holding back. Many centered on escalating a U.S.-Russia conflict.
Britain and France have supplied cruise missiles with a range of 140 miles. However, this range is still 50 miles away from that of the ATACMS.
Ukrainians believe that the ATACMS, each constant nearly one and a half million, would provide better capability then the cruise missiles.
However, the number of ATACMS is limited, and the most concerning for the U.S. military. Lockheed Martin has only made about 4,0000, and a lot of them have been used for testing, and combat. Also, almost 900 have been sold.The army has spent about a billion dollars for the ATACMS, which are in production of 500 per year.
The fate of these missiles are yet to be known. Whether they will be kept by the U.S. or sent to Ukraine.