Reported US will supply Ukraine with long-range missiles

US President Joe Biden plans to send long-range rockets to Ukraine to help Kiev in the counteroffensive against the Russian Army, American media reported.

They have quoted some American officials familiarised with the issue as saying that Ukraine will take some ATACMS missiles that range up to 200 miles [300 km].

Something like that would enable Kiev to attack Russian targets in areas far deeper than the front line.

At least one Ukrainian missile has hit Russia's Black Sea fleet on Friday in Crime, the Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014, respectively.

A source within the Ukrainian Army has told the British broadcaster The BBC that the attack on the port at Sevastopol has been carried out using the Storm Shadow missiles, which have been sent to Ukraine from Britain and France, highlighting the importance of Western weapons in the war.

However, none of the leaders have confirmed American media reports.

What is known is that the American Abrams tanks will arrive at Kiev next week.

When Russian President Vladimir Putin started the war in Ukraine in February 2022, the Biden administration was reluctant to supply Ukraine with modern weapons.

But her attitude has changed over time, as Kiev now has advanced Himars missile systems and Patriot air protection missile system.

Beden has so far hesitated for long-range weapons, saying such missiles could confront the US directly with Russia, a state that possesses nuclear weapons. /rel