CNN —President Joe Biden is expected to make a final decision soon on sending long-range missiles to Ukraine for the first time, a major step recommended by the State and Defense departments after months of Ukrainian requests, people familiar with the discussions told CNN.
Discussions about sending the long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems, also known as ATACMS, picked up substantially in recent weeks, the sources said.
Currently, the maximum range of US weapons committed to Ukraine is around 93 miles with the ground-launched small diameter bomb.
ATACMS missiles are fired from HIMARS rocket launchers, the same type of vehicle that launches the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles that Ukraine already employs.
“When we talk about long-range missiles for Ukraine, it is not just a whim, but a real need,” the head of Zelensky’s office, Andriy Yermak, said on Telegram on Monday.
Persons:
Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Biden, ” Zelensky, Antony Blinken, Lockheed Martin, Andriy Yermak, Abrams, “ I’m, Republican Sen, James Risch of, “, Putin, they’ve, ”
Organizations:
CNN, State and Defense, Tactical Missile Systems, State Department, Pentagon, Lockheed, Army, Ukrainian, Republican, Aspen Security Forum
Locations:
Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv, Crimea, France, James Risch of Idaho