For use in Ukraine
USA deliver modern missile systems
06/01/2022 01:28 am
Ukraine is to get modern artillery systems from the USA. US President Biden announced this. There had previously been confusion over his statement that Ukraine would not be supplied with weapons that could reach Russia.
The US wants to equip the Ukrainian armed forces with multiple rocket launchers. A senior government official said on Tuesday evening (local time) that Ukraine should receive the Himar system with ammunition with a range of 80 kilometers. US President Biden ruled out the delivery of multiple rocket launchers to Ukraine on Monday that could reach targets in Russia.
On Tuesday evening, however, he announced in an opinion piece for the “New York Times” that he would deliver “more advanced missile systems” to Ukraine. These would “allow for more precise hitting of key targets on the battlefield in Ukraine,” Biden wrote. However, he emphasized: “We do not encourage or enable Ukraine to strike beyond its borders.”
The vehicle-mounted HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) system can fire rockets with a range of several hundred kilometers. However, as the government representative pointed out, the US does not want to supply ammunition with such a long range. “These systems are used by the Ukrainians to repel Russian advances into Ukrainian territory, but they are not used against Russia,” the official said.
The broadcaster CNN reported a few days ago, citing officials, that the US government was considering sending the multiple rocket launchers to Ukraine. Ukraine asked for these types of weapons. However, the US government is hesitant because of fears that Ukraine could use the systems for attacks on Russian territory. The question therefore arises as to whether this could lead to a Russian retaliatory measure against the USA.