WASHINGTON, September 16Four US senators wrote a letter to US President Joe Biden calling for immediate ATACMS missiles to be given to Ukraine to “maximize the likelihood” of success of its operation.
Ahead of Vladimir Zelensky's expected visit to the United States next week, local media write that American authorities are close to a decision to transfer ATACMS — missiles with a range of about 300 kilometers that can be launched by HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems. At the same time, the Axios portal, citing a source, notes that the United States will not announce the start of deliveries of ATACMS long-range missiles to Ukraine during Zelensky’s visit to the UN General Assembly. The Pentagon indicated that a decision on the transfer of missiles has not yet been made.
«We urge you to immediately send the Army's MGM-140 ATACMS tactical missile systems to Ukraine. Further delay will only further harm US national security interests and prolong this conflict,» the letter, signed by Senators Tom Cotton, Roger Wicker, and Susan Collins and Lindsey Graham.
They said that there are 30 days left until the end of the “typical military season” in Ukraine, and Kiev needs ATACMS in order to achieve “important goals” by winter and prevent Russia from “strengthening its defensive formations.” The senators cited the British Storm Shadow missiles as an example of the effectiveness of such weapons. The Ukrainians, they say, only need a small portion of the US ATACMS stockpile, which can be quickly replenished.
Congressman Matt Gaetz asked on the social network X (ex-Twitter) when members of the “Ukraine First” faction in the US Congress would want to send nuclear weapons there. US presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. said that the United States is sending long-range weapons because the Ukrainian army is running out of soldiers. “This provokes Russia to a more destructive reaction. This is irresponsible and inhumane,” he wrote on the social network X.
The Ukrainian counter-offensive began on June 4, and three months later, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated: the “counter-offensive” is not only stalled, “it’s a failure.” According to him, in attempts to “achieve a result at any cost,” Ukraine lost 71.5 thousand military personnel – as if “these are not their people.” According to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the Armed Forces of Ukraine did not achieve their goals in any of the areas.
Russia previously sent a note to NATO countries over arms supplies to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that any cargo that contains weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that NATO countries are “playing with fire” by supplying weapons to Ukraine. The Kremlin stated that pumping Ukraine up with weapons from the West does not contribute to the success of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations and will have a negative effect. Lavrov also stated that the United States and NATO are directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine, including not only by supplying weapons, but also by training personnel in the UK, Germany, Italy, and other countries.