US is close to approving ATACMS missile systems for Ukraine – WSJ

The US is close to approving the supply of Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) for Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) wrote on June 29.

The supply of ATACMS to Ukraine still needs to be approved "at the highest level," according to European and U.S. officials.

They have already seen signs that the previously reluctant White House has changed its attitude. It has also come to realize "the urgent need to support Ukraine in its struggle in the coming weeks."

As a Ukrainian defense official told the WSJ in recent weeks, "Kyiv has received positive signs that the United States has changed its position on the ATACMS system."

Rubryka has previously reported that there is a high probability that Ukraine will receive long-range ATACMS missiles from the US.

Ukrainian officials, both military and political, emphasize that the state's forces need long-range weapons to win the war. For a long time, Ukraine's allies were reluctant to provide the state with such weapons. They feared that the military could use it to strike at Russian territory.

However, the US rhetoric on ATACMS has recently changed. In particular, US congressmen introduced a resolution in the parliament calling on the Biden administration to provide Ukraine with these missiles. The year 2023 saw the White House's reluctance weaken on many previously withheld pieces of gear, such as Abrams tanks or F-16 fighter jets. In May, Biden said that ATACMS are also "still in play."

Ukraine already received long-range Storm Shadow missiles from the UK. British defense ministry notes that the missiles hit 100% of the targets identified by Ukraine's forces.