US President Joe Biden has approved supplying Ukraine with the much-awaited Army Tactical Missile System, according to three US officials.
US President Joe Biden has approved supplying Ukraine with the much-awaited Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), according to a report by NBC News, citing three US officials.
In a private meeting, Biden reportedly told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that a small number of the weapons will be transferred soon.
However, the war-torn nation will have to commit not to target Russian territories and further escalate the war, according to earlier reports.
The sources did not say when the missiles would be delivered or when the US government would make a public announcement about it.
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Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, calls for fighter jets and long-range weapons from Western allies emanated from Kyiv.
Biden previously said the US would not send the ATACMS to Kyiv over fears that it would strike deep into Russian territory and harm civilians.
Additionally, Washington argued that it does not have a large stockpile of excess ATACMS to be sent to the country.
However, a US Senator disclosed in June that the possibility of the Biden administration sending the much-awaited missiles to Ukraine was “high.”
Developed by Lockheed Martin, the ATACMS can provide operational commanders with the immediate firepower to win the deep battle. It can strike targets up to 200 miles (321 kilometers) away.
