US to provide Ukraine with much-wanted ATACMS missiles after months of lobbying
- 22 September, 17:23
The US will send ATACMS long-range missiles to Ukraine in an attempt to help boost the country’s defence and after months of lobbying from Kyiv.
President Joe Biden told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy that a small number of missiles would be sent to Ukraine, the US media reported with reference to unnamed officials. The announcement was made on September 21, during Zelenskiy’s second wartime visit to Washington where he asked for more weapons supplies to help the country fight Russia’s aggression.
Ukraine had asked for the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) for months now. The missile will allow Ukraine to strike targets beyond the Russian front lines.
According to defence officials, Washington does not have a large stockpile of ATACMS and the US has resisted supplying the weapon to Kyiv.
It should be noted that the US is the single largest provider of weapons to Ukraine. Since the start of Russia’s invasion ast year, the Biden administration has sent over $75 billion in assistance to Ukraine, which includes humanitarian, financial, and military support.
