In a major development for Ukraine, the United States delivered long-range ATACMS missiles to the country before the adoption of new aid by American Congress on Tuesday. This was announced by the State Department on Wednesday. President Joe Biden had made a request for this shipment in February, and it arrived in Ukraine this month as part of the latest aid package sent on March 12. The inclusion of these missiles in the March package was not disclosed at the time to maintain operational security for Ukraine.
The MGM-140 missiles, also known as ATACMS, are highly advanced and have a much greater range than previous versions used by Ukraine. Some versions can reach up to 300 km, making them crucial for Ukraine’s success in the conflict against Russia. Volodymyr Zelensky’s soldiers have been eagerly awaiting their arrival, seeing them as a turning point in their fight against Russian aggression.
Ukraine has had rocket launchers capable of firing ATACMS missiles since 2022, but modifications were made to ensure they could not fire long-range missiles. The recent delivery of longer-range ATACMS missiles will provide Ukraine with increased capabilities in the conflict with Russia. This comes at a critical time and may have implications on the direction of the conflict with Russia moving forward.
The inclusion of these missiles in the March aid package was seen as a major victory for Ukraine and its allies, who have been fighting to maintain peace and stability in Europe for years now. The delivery of these powerful weapons is expected to give Ukraine an edge over Russia in battle and deter any further aggression from Moscow.
However, there were concerns about possible escalation of conflict with Russia due to this delivery of long-range missiles. Despite these fears, President Biden made it clear that his administration is committed to supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while working towards peace talks with Russia.
Overall, this delivery marks a significant milestone in Ukraine’s struggle against Russian aggression and provides hope for peace and stability in Europe.
