Britain sent the long-range cruise missile “Storm Shadow” to Ukraine in May. And France has committed to shipping similar missiles, which it calls SCALP, when NATO leaders gather in Lithuania on Tuesday.
But at least for now, the United States still hesitating sent Ukraine any limited number of Army Long-Range Tactical Missile Systems – known as ATACMS, or “attack ’ems” – even as the Biden administration acknowledged that Kyiv’s forces dangerously running out of other weapons in the counteroffensive against Russia.
Ukraine has long coveted the ATACMS, which has a range of about 190 miles, or about 40 miles more than the missiles offered by France and Britain.
The Pentagon insists that Ukraine does not currently need ATACMS, which can reach behind enemy lines, including in Russia and occupied Crimea.
But two US officials and a European official described a quiet debate within the Biden administration about whether to send even some of the guided surface-to-surface missiles that are being reserved for threats. other security threats. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an internal administration debate.
Like the United States, France has previously ruled out supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles for fear they could be used to strike targets in Russia, escalating the conflict. But President Emmanuel Macron said he was sending SCALP missiles to help Ukraine defend itself.
“In view of the situation and the counter-attack being carried out by Ukraine, I have decided to increase the supply of weapons and equipment and to provide the Ukrainians with the ability to strike deep,” Macron said upon arrival in Vilnius, the capital. of Lithuania, on October 10. Tuesday for NATO Annual Summit.
The counterattack is progressing slowly, as the Ukrainians are advancing against Russian forces that have had months to build up defensive positions.
The United States has overcome its reluctance to provide advanced weapons to Ukraine, which is based in part on the administration’s concerns about escalating the conflict. The administration destroyed several weapons systems on its own, eventually agreeing to send Patriot air defense systems, Abrams tanks, and cluster bombs.
President biden just made a decision on cluster munitions last week. He defended his decision on Friday to supply ammunition, which has been outlawed by many of America’s closest allies, saying it was a difficult choice but “Ukrainians are running out of ammunition.” “.
Other military assistance committed to Ukraine at the NATO meeting included 25 more jaguar tank40 additional infantry fighting vehicles and two more Patriot air defense missile launchers in a package of $770 million from Germany and $240 million from Norway for unidentified equipment and other support.
In addition, defense ministers from Denmark and the Netherlands announced they had gathered 11 countries to help Begins training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 . fighter jets and will establish a school to do so in Romania.
The ATACMS was one of the last major weapons systems that Kiev wanted and the United States was reluctant to provide.
US defense officials have warned that their ATACMS arsenal is relatively small and that the missiles have been used for other Pentagon war plans in places including the Korean Peninsula. Only about 4,000 ATACMS have been produced since the missile was developed in the 1980s, a Lockheed Martin spokesman said Tuesday.
Giving them to Ukraine would risk their availability in other hotspots.
Immediately after Ukraine launched a counter-offensive last month, House Republicans Officially Called asked the Biden administration to “immediately” send ATACMS to Ukraine, noting that other allies had donated long-range missiles of their own.
Tuesday’s French announcement could prompt a pressure campaign or, conversely, ease tensions as Ukraine is receiving long-range missiles from other countries.
Franklin D. Kramer, former assistant secretary of defense for international affairs, said: “To some extent, the military reason to do this is exemplified by what is happening right now. , regarding the counterattack.
Ukraine’s Defense Minister, Oleksii Reznikov, told journalists on Tuesday that he was “absolutely certain that everything that is impossible now” will become possible.
He said he remained in touch with American officials about the ATACMS and with German officials, whom Kyiv was urging. Taurus missileincluding a range about 310 miles.
Mr. Reznikov made it clear that he would not stop demanding ATACM or long-range missiles from any ally.
“We need more weapons,” he said.
Eric Schmitt contribution report from Washington, Matthew Mpoke Bigg from London and Zolan Kanno-Youngs from Vilnius.
