Disappointment for Ukraine
Longed-for weapon missing from US aid package for Kiev
September 21, 2023, 9:57 p.m
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Ukraine’s President Zelenskyj is intensively lobbying Washington for additional weapons for the defense against Russia. His country is also receiving further aid, again in the millions. However, Kiev’s dream weapon is not on the list.
US President Joe Biden will not promise Ukraine ATACMS missiles on the occasion of the visit of Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelensky. “President Biden will announce a new military aid package today,” Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters at the White House. The package will receive extensive funding for air defense, but no ATACMS missiles.
Biden decided against supplying ATACMS missiles after careful consideration, Sullivan said. “But he doesn’t rule it out for the future either.” Controversial cluster munitions are to be delivered again. According to Reuters, the package is worth $325 million.
Zelensky, who visited the US Congress and was to be received by Biden at the White House in the afternoon (local time), is pushing for a delivery of longer-range missiles. He is interested in US ATACMS missiles, which have a range of 300 kilometers. The USA has shown itself to be extremely cautious on the subject – as has Germany when it comes to Taurus cruise missiles.