Pentagon’s former chief calls for fighter jets and ATACMS to be provided to Ukraine

Mark Esper, Former US Secretary of Defence, has called for the provision of ATACMS long-range missiles and aircraft to Ukraine. Source: European Pravda; Voice of America (Ukrainian service) Details: Esper believes that the policy of Western countries towards Ukraine is correct but too slow.

He stated that in order to be successful, Ukraine should have received tanks in the autumn. He urges the White House and allies to be proactive and not delay decisions on ATACMS missiles and fighter jets. "Instead of reacting to the threat of a Russian offensive, I'd rather see the Ukrainians go on the offensive now, while the Russians are still trying to train, equip and organise their military, defeat them, and push them out of Ukrainian territory.

But now we're lagging behind; tanks should have been handed over to the Ukrainians in September or October," the former high-ranking official said.

"We should have approved giving them aircraft that would have given them an advantage. If they are going to engage in combined arms combat, you need to have not only direct fire but also air fire," he adds.  "We should send them ATACMS so the Ukrainians could reach deep into eastern Ukraine, deep into Crimea, to destroy the launch pads of Shaheds [Iranian-made kamikaze drones], to disable the launch pads for launching missiles, to destroy warehouses of material and technical support, barracks, whatever.

You need to have accurate long-range weapons," Esper said. He is convinced that military aid to Ukraine will not lead to escalation, as the Russians say. He calls on the White House to make bolder, faster and larger decisions regarding military aid to Ukraine.

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On Monday, US President Joe Biden said that the United States does not plan to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

However, French President Emmanuel Macron did not rule out the supply of fighter jets to Ukraine, saying that "in principle, nothing is prohibited".

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