Biden says US to send advanced rockets to Ukraine, not seeking Putin’s ouster
- US officials say plan is to provide Ukraine with weaponry including the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (Himars)
- President Joe Biden emphasised US was not encouraging Ukraine to strike beyond its borders into Russia
The United States will provide Ukraine with more advanced rocket systems to help it fight invading forces, President Joe Biden said, adding he’s not seeking the ouster of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
The rocket systems are part of a new US$700 million tranche of security assistance for Ukraine from the US that will include helicopters, Javelin anti-tank weapon systems, tactical vehicles, spare parts and more, according to two senior administration officials.
The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the weapons package that will be formally unveiled on Wednesday.
The US decision to provide the advance rocket systems tries to strike a balance between the desire to help Ukraine battle ferocious Russian artillery barrages while not providing arms that could allow Ukraine to hit targets deep inside Russia and trigger an escalation in the war.
In a guest essay published Tuesday evening in The New York Times, Biden confirmed that he’s decided to “provide the Ukrainians with more advanced rocket systems and munitions that will enable them to more precisely strike key targets on the battlefield in Ukraine”.
Biden had said Monday that the US would not send Ukraine “rocket systems that can strike into Russia”. Any weapons system can shoot into Russia if it’s close enough to the border.