Biden administration explores transfer of long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine, reports NBC

This is according to NBC News, citing statements from two US officials.

American officials indicate a growing inclination towards providing Ukraine with longer-range missiles, enabling them to strike at increased distances.

Approval from the US Congress could see these ATACMS missiles included in one of the initial military aid packages for Ukraine. The United States is also prepared to send ammunition and artillery promptly upon funding approval.

Transfer timelines for ATACMS missiles could be swift, occurring within hours of a decision. Officials haven't ruled out seeking assistance from allies to supply missiles to Ukraine and replenish their own ATACMS stocks.

The spokesperson for the US Department of Defense stated, "Without a supplemental [funding bill], we do not currently have a security assistance package to give to Ukraine. At the same time, I won’t speculate on the contents of any future packages if a supplemental were to be passed. We will let you know if this changes and if we have a new package to announce."

The Biden administration had refrained from sending long-range missiles over the past two years, expressing concerns that Ukraine might use them to initiate an attack on Crimea or the Russian Federation, potentially escalating the conflict with Vladimir Putin.

• In a notable development in October 2023, Ukraine deployed American long-range ATACMS missiles against Russian troops, which the United States had discreetly supplied a few days earlier.