Slow weapons supply to Ukraine encourages Putin to escalate war – diplomat Chaly

He expressed this opinion on the Espreso TV channel.

"Political issues are the reason why there is a delay in providing Ukraine with aircraft and missiles. We are now saying that the United States will provide Ukraine with long-range missiles. In fact, this is not true. Russia is now using missiles with a range of over 2,000 kilometers against us, and we don't even have 300 kilometers. We cannot balance our capabilities with the enemy. Yes, we do receive assistance and we are sincerely grateful for it. However, our allies are delaying such assistance," explained Chaly.

The diplomat emphasized that delaying military assistance to Ukraine only plays into Russia's hands.

"The managed escalation approach taken by the United States was useful for a certain period, but not now. Today, we need to concentrate all possible solutions, and if we are constantly promised and delayed aid, we cannot plan military operations properly. For some reason, we have not been able to convince the West that they should not delay the supply of weapons to Ukraine. In my opinion, delays in the supply of weapons to Ukraine will increase the escalation of this war. This will only play into Putin's hands. The longer it takes for us to receive weapons, the more time he will have to build up and accumulate reserves," he added.

Is Ukraine getting ATACMS?

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.