The United States has agreed to send longer-range bombs to Ukraine after months of agony as Kyiv prepares to launch a spring offensive to retake territories captured by Russia last year, US officials said Thursday.
Officials have confirmed that the new weapon will have about twice the range of any other offensive weapon provided by America.
The US will provide ground-launched bombs as part of a $2.17 billion aid package expected to be announced Friday, several US officials said.
The package also includes, for the first time, hardware to connect the various air defense systems that the Western Allies have rushed onto the battlefield and integrate them into Quiva’s own air defenses to help them better defend against Russia’s ongoing missile attacks.
For months, U.S. officials hesitated to send long-range systems to Ukraine, fearing they would be used to target Russian territory, escalating the conflict and further U.S. involvement.
Longer-range bombs are the latest advanced system, such as the Abrams tanks and the Patriot missile defense system, which the US eventually agreed to provide to Ukraine after initial rejection. However, US officials continue to reject Ukraine’s requests for fighter jets.
Ukrainian leaders urgently demanded longer-range munitions, and on Thursday officials said the US would send an undisclosed number of small-diameter ground-launched bombs that have a range of about 95 miles (150 kilometers). The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the details of the aid package, which have not yet been made public.
To date, the longest range missile provided by the US is about 50 miles (80 kilometers). The funding in the aid package is for long-term purchases, so it was not clear Thursday how long it would take to get the bomb to the battlefield in Ukraine.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleskiy Reznikov said on Thursday that the country is ready to provide guarantees to its Western partners that their weapons will not be used to strike Russian territory, adding that Kyiv needs weapons with a range of up to 300 kilometers (186 miles) to drive out the Russians. troops.
“If we could strike at a distance of up to 300 kilometers, the Russian army would not be able to build a defense and would be forced to retreat. Ukraine is ready to provide guarantees that your weapons will not be used in strikes against Russians. We have enough targets in the occupied territories of Ukraine, and we are ready to coordinate (these) targets with our partners, ”Reznikov said at a meeting with EU officials.
The US aid package includes $425 million in munitions and support equipment to be removed from existing Pentagon stockpiles and $1.75 billion in new funding from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to purchase new weapons from industry.
USAI, which will pay for longer-range bombs and air defense system integration, is also funding two HAWK air defense systems, anti-aircraft guns and ammunition, and anti-drone systems.
Since the Russian invasion last February, Western allies have promised Ukraine a plethora of air defense systems to support Kyiv’s own Soviet-made S-300 surface-to-air missile systems, and the latest aid package aims to enable their integration. anything that could improve Ukraine’s ability to defend against incoming Russian attacks.
The US announced the creation of the National Advanced Medium-to-Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, or NASAMS, and truck-launched Avenger short-range air defense systems; The Netherlands, Germany and the US are sending Patriot missile defense systems; Germany sends IRIS-T medium-range air defense systems; and Spain is sending Aspide anti-aircraft systems.
Reuters reported for the first time the addition of longer-range bombs to the latest aid package.
Ukraine is still looking for F-16 fighter jets, which US President Joe Biden opposed sending from the very beginning of the war. Asked Monday if his administration was considering sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, Biden said “no.”
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov was asked Tuesday if Biden’s last word was against the F-16.
“All types of assistance first went through the “no” stage, which means only “no” at the moment. The second stage is “let’s talk and explore the technical possibilities”. Stage three: “Let’s train your staff.” And the fourth stage is the transfer (of equipment),” Reznikov stressed.
