Yermak: US is 'very close' to decision on ATACMS for Ukraine.

Washington is "very close" to making a decision on whether to provide Ukraine with long-range ATACMS missiles, Ukraine's Presidential Office head Andrii Yermak told journalists on July 14. Yermak said he's in good contact with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and is well aware of the decision-making process.

President Joe Biden confirmed[1] on July 12 that the U.S. was considering supplying the long-requested missiles to Ukraine. He told Bloomberg, however, that artillery ammunition was a more urgent need for Ukraine as the country already possesses weapons systems similar to ATACMS. Biden was likely referring to the SCALP long-range missiles pledged[2] by France at the latest NATO summit and the U.K.-provided Storm Shadow missiles, in us[3]e by the Ukrainian military since May.

Storm Shadows and Scalp missiles have a range of approximately 250 kilometers. Meanwhile, the Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, can reach targets more than 300 kilometers away. Ukraine's president discussed [4]the provision of ATACMS with his American counterpart at the Vilnius NATO summit on July 12.

Washington has been reluctant to supply ATACMS due to the fear of escalation and the concerns that they may be used to attack Russian territory. Supporters of providing ATACMS argue that Kyiv's inability to strike targets far from the frontline results in the deaths of numerous Ukrainians and makes it very difficult for Ukraine to expel Russian troops from its territory.

Former NATO envoy to Moscow: 'Potential escalation with Russia is a myth' The West failed to understand the Russian regime before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Robert Pszczel, the former NATO envoy to Moscow from 2010-2015, said on the sidelines of the Warsaw International Summit in Kyiv on July 7.

Once the punching bag of Russian propagandists during his appearances on...

References

1. ^ confirmed (kyivindependent.com)
2. ^ pledged (kyivindependent.com)
3. ^ in us (kyivindependent.com)
4. ^ discussed (kyivindependent.com)
5. ^ Former NATO envoy to Moscow: 'Potential escalation with Russia is a myth'The West failed to understand the Russian regime before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Robert Pszczel, the former NATO envoy to Moscow from 2010-2015, said on the sidelines of the Warsaw International Summit in Kyiv on July 7.

   Once the punching bag of Russian propagandists during his appearances on... (kyivindependent.com)