US President Joe Biden has decided that the US will provide the Ukrainian military with “more advanced missile systems and ammunition”. This allows the military to attack key targets on the battlefield in Ukraine more accurately. He wrote that in a opinion piece in front of The New York Times†
The president cited “Javelin anti-tank missiles, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, high-power artillery and precision missile systems, radars, unmanned aerial vehicles, Mi-17 helicopters and ammunition”. The decision fits what Biden describes in his article as America’s clear goal. “We want a democratic, independent, sovereign and prosperous Ukraine that has the necessary means of defense”.
What Biden didn’t mention is that the US is also sending Himars-type missile systems (M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) to Ukraine. That was later confirmed by government sources to news agencies Reuters and AFP. These Himars missiles use precision munitions and have a range of approximately 80 kilometers. “These systems will be used by the Ukrainians to fend off the Russian advance on Ukrainian territory, but will not be used on targets on Russian territory,” the official said.
Like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden said he believes the war in Ukraine will have to end through diplomacy, not on the battlefield. Biden said talks have now stalled as “Russia continues to wage war to take over as much of Ukraine as possible.”
In the op-ed, Biden pledged to help address the food crisis and reduce reliance on Russian fuel. But he gave no concrete plans.