Option of supplying ATACMS long-range missiles to Ukraine “remains open” – foreign minister

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said that he discussed the long-range ATACMS missiles supply to Ukraine with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Rubryka reports.

"We discussed in detail today the issue of providing long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine. We had a very substantive conversation," Kuleba said at a joint press conference with Blinken,

According to Ukraine's top diplomat, he is glad that "this option remains open."

"We expect that discussions within the administration will lead to a positive decision," Kuleba added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently stated regarding the supply of ATACMS missiles that he believes Ukraine will receive a result from the US, as with other weapons.

"We are lobbying for it through different doors, let's say so, but we will definitely get a result," he emphasized.

The leader recalled that Ukraine negotiated similar deals with Great Britain and France regarding the supply of Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles.

What we know about ATACMS

The ATACMS tactical missile systems are surface-to-surface missiles with a range of about 300 kilometers, roughly four times the range of the missiles used by the mobile HIMARS systems that the US began sending to Ukraine last year.

In April, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said that the United States would not supply long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine but was considering other options to give the Armed Forces more battlefield capabilities.

However, at the end of May, US President Joe Biden officially announced the replacement of US Chief of Staff Mark Milley with Charles Brown.

The Ukrainian military and political leadership emphasize that the Armed Forces need long-range weapons to win the war. The partners did not want to provide Ukraine with such weapons for a long time. They feared that the Ukrainian military could use it to attack the territory of the Russian Federation.

However, as Rubryka reported, US rhetoric regarding ATACMS has recently changed. American congress representatives submitted a resolution to the parliament calling on the Biden administration to provide these missiles to Ukraine.

Rubryka also reported that Ukraine received Storm Shadow long-range missiles from Great Britain. The Ministry of Defense notes that the missiles hit 100% of all targets identified by the Armed Forces.