Sputnik
The United States is close to approving a shipment of long-range cruise missiles that would enable Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia, with the decision expected this fall, media reported on Tuesday, citing US officials.
Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) are expected to be part of a new weapons package to be announced this fall, the report said, citing three sources.
A final decision reportedly has not been made.
The JASSM has so far only been integrated into US-designed aircraft, but efforts are ongoing to make it operable with non-Western fighter jets in Ukraine's possession, a US official said.
Older-model JASSMs have a range of about 230 miles, while a longer-range version can fly more than 500 miles, the report noted.
It is unclear which of the two types the US is considering, according to the report.
The White House National Security Council told Sputnik in August that they had no comment on media reports alleging that US President Joe Biden was considering providing long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine.
Russia views the supply of weapons to Ukraine as an impediment to conflict resolution, saying that it directly involves NATO countries in the conflict.
Washington is once again considering granting Ukraine high-power armaments to use against Russian civilians.
President Joe Biden’s support for Ukraine in its proxy war against the Russian Federation has been marked by careful efforts to manage the narrative accompanying US involvement.
Biden has consistently attempted to paint the United States as a cautious and responsible party to the dispute, warning of the potential of a dangerous escalation of the conflict with the nuclear-armed power. To this end the president has often resisted calls to provide Ukraine with certain high-power armaments, only to relent months later as Kiev’s forces appear to be at the end of their rope.
The White House signaled one such escalation Thursday when Western media reported Washington was “open” to providing Ukraine long-range cruise missiles with a range of over 230 miles. The Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) is reportedly the US Air Force’s most powerful and longest-range weapon, but questions remain over whether Ukraine possesses the aircraft and trained pilots necessary to put it to use.
“I don't think I'm overstating the reality when I say that Russia has been fairly measured in its response to the proxy aggression that Ukraine has been engaged in,” said host Wilmer Leon on Sputnik’s The Critical Hour program Friday, responding to the development. “If they are now considering sending missiles further into Russia, that's not going to bode well for Ukraine. It's not going to bode well for NATO. This is not a very good idea.”
1 comment:
The US must be pushing WW3. Who is evil, God knows.
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