The decision on how to use ATACMS is up to Ukraine - Blinken

He said this at a joint press conference with German Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock.

Blinken emphasized that the Ukrainian military should be able to effectively use American equipment.

“Sometimes new, sophisticated systems require training, and of course we’re engaged in that.  They need to be able to maintain them, and that doesn’t happen automatically.  And then they need to fit into a coherent military program that makes sense in helping Ukraine achieve its objectives,” Blinken said.

“When it comes to how Ukrainians use these systems, the targeting decisions are theirs.  They’re not ours.  And they have to make judgments about what can be most effective in working to regain their full sovereignty, their territorial integrity.  As a matter of our own policy, we do not encourage, nor do we enable, the use of our weapon systems outside of Ukraine.  But again, fundamentally these are Ukrainian decisions,” he pointed out.

• On August 7, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and emphasized the need for ATACMS for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

• 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.