The White House is weighing the possibility of supplying Ukraine with long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), pending the approval of a new funding package by Congress, NBC reported.
This move comes after months of requests from Ukrainian officials and the US’s initial supply of older medium-range ATACMS to the country. The potential shift toward sending the longer-range version of the missile would enable Ukraine to strike deeper into the Russian-occupied Crimea.
According to NBC, US defense officials have expressed concerns about the limited inventory of ATACMS in the US and the likelihood of sending them to Ukraine without money to replenish US stockpiles. If Congress approves additional funding for Ukraine, the long-range ATACMS could be included in one of the first packages of military aid. The US also has ammunition and artillery ready to send immediately if the funding is approved.
The White House has not yet responded to NBC’s requests for comment. The Biden administration’s reluctance to send long-range missiles in the past two years stemmed from concerns that Ukraine might use them to strike inside Crimea or Russia, potentially escalating the conflict. However, White House and Pentagon officials, who have expressed similar concerns about other weapons systems, have now decided to provide them to Ukraine, NBC concluded.
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