It's tactical retreat: diplomat on US delay in supplying ATACMS missiles to Ukraine

He expressed this opinion on the air of the Espreso TV channel.

"I was under the impression that the issue of supplying long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine was almost resolved. Suddenly, we saw what happened. In particular, the US House of Representatives blocked aid to Ukraine in the temporarily approved budget. Aid to Ukraine is now a postponed issue in the US. This situation should be resolved within the next 45 days," Veselovsky explained.

The diplomat is convinced that the issue of supplying ATACMS missiles is being delayed due to the US Republican Party's blocking of additional aid for Ukraine

"It seems to me that President Biden's administration does not want to irritate the Republican Party too much. Therefore, the issue of supplying ATACMS missiles will be postponed until separate legislation is passed that will provide $300 million and then $24 billion in aid to Ukraine. That is, this is a purely tactical retreat that occurred due to the underestimation of a certain part of the Congress that is clearly supports Donald Trump. Frankly, I would like to be wrong, but in this situation, this is not the case," he added.

Sending long-rage ATACMS missiles to Ukraine

On April 19, the United States announced another USD 325 million military aid package to Ukraine, which included HIMARS and artillery shells.

At the end of May, representatives of the US Congress called on Biden to send the missiles to Ukraine. In a letter addressed to the US President, the leaders of the bipartisan Helsinki Commission called on the White House to authorize the delivery of the US Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) to Ukraine.

On June 10, members of both parties in the US House of Representatives introduced a resolution calling on Joe Biden to send ATACMS to Ukraine.

On June 21, the House Foreign Affairs Committee supported a resolution to Biden calling for the immediate delivery of ATACMS to Ukraine.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States is close to making a decision to provide Ukraine with long-range tactical missile systems ATACMS.

The WP reported that the US does not have enough ATACMS missiles to provide them to Ukraine. 

On September 9, it was reported that the United States may provide missiles to Ukraine in the next aid package.

On September 12, media reported that the Biden administration was close to approving the supply of longer-range missiles to Ukraine, which are immediately equipped with cluster munitions.

On September 15, The Wall Street Journal reported that Ukraine is close to receiving ATACMS missiles from the United States this fall.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on September 15, that the Ukrainian military will use US missiles as they see appropriate. 

During the talks in the White House on September 22, US President Joe Biden has reportedly assured Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine would receive a small number of ATACMS missiles.

On September 28, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the supply of long-range missiles to Ukraine was discussed during a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US President Joe Biden, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz last week.

On October 3, Bloomberg reported that the Pentagon is ready to provide Ukraine with ATACMS missiles very quickly – they are only waiting for the final approval of US President Joe Biden.