An NBC News published on Monday that the White House is working overtime to provide Zelensky new long-range ballistic missiles if Congress gives a green light on the $95.34 billion military aid package for Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and Taiwan.
These longer-range missiles would allow Ukraine to hit farther inside the Russian-controlled Crimean Peninsula.
However, according to Defense officials, due to the limited supply of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), they might not be able to provide these to Ukraine without the financial aid to replenish US inventory.
But the future of this funding remains bleak.
The House, upon the midnight approval of the Senate, declares the billion-dollar funding for Ukraine dead on arrival as lawmakers demand to allocate additional assistance to border security as migrant influx continues to surge.
Rep. Cory Mills blasted how the Senate managed to pull an all-nighter to fast-track approval of foreign funding allocated to Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and Taiwan.
“Sen Schumer and the Senate work through the night for foreign countries, but NOT for America. Their priority is to send aid to countries like Ukraine, rather than prioritize securing our border here at home.”
Meanwhile, the Defense Department insisted that “Without a supplemental [funding bill], we do not currently have a security assistance package to give to Ukraine.
“At the same time, I won’t speculate on the contents of any future packages if a supplemental were to be passed. We will let you know if this changes and if we have a new package to announce.”
However, officials also did not rule out the possibility of the US to request allies to provide these missiles, and possibly replenish their ATACMS stockpiles.
According to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, during a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, he emphasized the necessity for longer-range weapons.
He said, “I just came here from a meeting with Secretary Blinken.”
“I spent a very good part of the time arguing in favor of ATACMS,” he said, explaining that Ukraine needs the version of the missile that can fly 300 kilometers or more than 180 miles.”
Furthermore, Kuleba added “There is only one way to destroy Russian capabilities in Ukraine. It’s to hit deep into the occupied territories, bypassing Russian radio-electronic warfare and interceptors.”
“If you want to hit behind the lines, disrupt their logistics and supplies, destroy their depots of ammunition, you can do it only with long-range missiles,” he said.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal echoed the same line during a visit to Japan on Tuesday. He argued that Ukraine has modern equipment and trained soldiers and is fighting at NATO standards, but the country needs more long-range missiles for air defense against Russia on the front line.
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