WASHINGTON, United States: The United States shipped long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to Ukraine for use inside its territory, and the weapons arrived in the country this month, said the State Department Wednesday.
“I can confirm that the United States provided Ukraine with long-range ATACMS at the president’s direct direction,” State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told media-men.
The ATACMS were part of a March aid package for the country fighting Russia, not the one just approved by Congress and signed by President Biden.
Patel said they did not announce the supply at the onset in order to maintain operational security for Ukraine at their request.
According to the experts, some ATACMS missiles can strike targets up to 300 kilometers away as a Defence Department spokesperson also confirmed that was the long-range variant was supplied to Ukraine.
The White House said last year that the US sent a shorter-range variant of ATACMS that can travel 165 kilometers, but Kyiv was long demanding the longer-range missiles.
Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Advisor, said the United States plans to dispatch more of the long-range missiles to Ukraine.
“They will make a difference. But as I’ve said before at this podium… there is no silver bullet,” Sullivan added.
It is to mention here that president Biden also signed a bill to provide $61 billion in new aid for Ukraine on Wednesday, clearing the way for the Pentagon to announce an assistance package for Ukraine including desperately needed artillery and air defence munitions.
