WSJ: The Pentagon is considering supplying Kyiv with longer-range ATACMS missiles

The United States may transfer modern versions of ATACMS long-range missiles to Ukraine, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing American officials. Prior to this, Kyiv had repeatedly asked Washington for the supply of these missiles with a range of about 290 km for attacks on Crimea.

According to the newspaper's interlocutors, the administration of US President Joe Biden previously refused to supply modern long-range missiles. The White House believed that the entire ATACMS arsenal should remain in service with the US Armed Forces. However, now the Pentagon may agree to the transfer of long-range missiles, since the US army has the opportunity to replace them with new high-precision PrSM (Precision Strike Missile) missiles. The range of the new missiles exceeds 400 km.

The new missiles were tested in November 2023. The first batch of missiles entered service with the US Army in December.

However, according to the newspaper’s sources, it is not yet known whether Biden himself will approve the transfer of such missiles to Ukraine.

The Pentagon has already announced that the new aid package to Kiev, worth $300 million, includes artillery shells of 155 mm and 105 mm caliber, including cluster type, as well as Stinger man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems and ammunition for HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems.

Since October 2023, the  US Congress has been discussing the allocation of new financial assistance to Ukraine. Initially, it was planned to agree on the allocation of $118 billion to support Ukraine, Taiwan and Israel. A $95 billion package was later agreed upon, but was never put to a vote. Members of the Republican Party, in turn, began to prepare an alternative aid package, which would consist of loans.