It was hesitant for a long time, now it’s official: Ukraine has received long-range ATACMS missiles from the USA. More are to follow. Does this increase pressure on Germany to supply “Taurus” cruise missiles?
No sooner had US President Joe Biden assured that new arms deliveries to Ukraine would be launched immediately than deliveries from the past suddenly became the focus.
Jake Sullivan, the president’s national security adviser, confirmed a report in the New York Times that the United States secretly delivered missiles with significantly longer range than before to Ukraine weeks ago. “In February, the president directed his team to provide Ukraine with a significant number of ATACMS missiles,” Sullivan said, adding, “for use within its own territory.”
Range of up to 300 kilometers
The addition is important. The newly delivered precision weapons have a range of up to 300 kilometers. Ukraine can thus target Russian positions well behind the front lines and has apparently already done so twice last week: an airfield on the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula and Russian positions in the occupied southeast of Ukraine were shelled. At the same time, according to Sullivan, Ukraine has assured the USA that it will not use the ATACMS to attack any targets in Russia itself.
The abbreviation ATACMS stands for Army Tactical Missile Systems – missile systems whose effectiveness and range are often compared to the British “Storm Shadow” and the German “Taurus” cruise missiles.
The USA had long hesitated to deliver the systems – not only because its own stocks were scarce, but also because it feared that the war could spread to Russian territory. Sullivan gave two reasons for the change of position: Russia used missiles from North Korea against Ukraine and significantly increased attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure.
“I would refer you to Berlin”
Additional long-range ATACMS should also be included in the first, fastest possible delivery after the US Congress’s decision. Asked whether this new type of weapon could turn the tide of war in Ukraine’s favor, Biden’s national security adviser said: “There is no silver bullet in this conflict. This one new capability will not provide a final solution.”
But Sullivan also emphasized: “Over time, in our opinion, Ukraine’s position will improve. We believe Ukraine can and will win.”
Will the USA’s decision to use long-range ATACMS missiles increase the pressure on Germany to deliver “Taurus” cruise missiles, which Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far firmly rejected? Would the USA welcome a German “Taurus” delivery? Sullivan was asked about that too. “I would refer you to Berlin,” was his only answer. The discussion about which weapons Ukraine needs does not seem to be over yet on both sides of the Atlantic.
Ralf Borchard, ARD Washington, tagesschau, April 25, 2024 6:36 a.m