According to a report by NBC News, the Biden administration is actively pursuing the provision of new long-range ballistic missiles to Ukraine, pending approval for additional military aid from Congress.
While in October, CNN disclosed that the administration had covertly supplied Ukraine with longer-range missiles capable of targeting previously inaccessible Russian sites, the recent delivery of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) has consisted of older medium-range missiles.
Sources within the U.S. government revealed to NBC News that there is a preference for providing Ukraine with the longer-range version of the ATACMS, enabling Ukraine to strike deeper into the Russian-held Crimean Peninsula.
Biden And Ukrainian Defense Staff (Credits: France 24)
However, due to the limited inventory of ATACMS, the U.S. is hesitant to send them without securing funds to replenish its own stockpiles. The Senate, led by Democrats, recently passed a $95.34 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and Taiwan.
Nevertheless, the package’s fate in the House remains uncertain, with many Republican lawmakers advocating for tying such assistance to substantial changes in border security measures amidst the ongoing migrant crisis.
A bipartisan Senate bill addressing border security and foreign aid, introduced earlier this month, faced opposition in the House, according to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.
Despite these challenges, the U.S. stands prepared to send ammunition and artillery to Ukraine promptly if the necessary funding is approved, with the long-range ATACMS potentially included in the initial military aid packages.
In the absence of a supplemental funding bill, the Defense Department spokesperson emphasized that there is currently no finalized security assistance package for Ukraine. Nonetheless, the situation remains dynamic, and future aid packages will be announced accordingly.
Opponents of additional aid to Ukraine reject allegations that their stance aligns with the interests of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Instead, they argue that they are taking a pragmatic approach to assess the value of investing taxpayer money in supporting Ukraine’s defense efforts.
Senator Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., emphasized this perspective, stating that opposing an unconditional financial commitment to another nation should not be equated with pro-Russian sentiments.
