Will Ukraine get long-range weapons to hit Russian targets?

Kyiv urged its allies on January 2 to speed up weapon supply following another deadly Russian missile attack on Ukraine. 

In a phone call with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked for the military support and contributions to Ukraine's air defense and discussed "further defense cooperation with a focus on long-range capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine."

“I spoke with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Russia’s continued air terror against Ukrainian cities. Over the previous five days, the enemy has launched at least 500 missiles and drones toward Ukraine. I am grateful to the United Kingdom for its substantial and comprehensive aid in bolstering Ukraine's air defense, particularly with radars, advanced anti-drone systems, and missiles,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also called on Western countries to "respond decisively" to the attack, including "accelerating the supply of additional air defense systems, combat drones of all types (and) long-range missiles."

Read also What new weapons Ukraine can get in 2024

Calls to supply Ukraine with more weapons, including Taurus missiles that have a range of up to 500 kilometers, were voiced again in Germany

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, the head of the Bundestag’s Defense Committee, said to t-online that “Ukraine needs more ammunition, more spare parts and The Taurus must be delivered immediately in order to finally make Russian supplies more difficult."

In late December, The United States has announced the last authorized military aid package for Ukraine of $250 million. 

President Joe Biden has asked Congress to provide another $61 billion in aid to Ukraine, but Republicans are so far refusing to approve the assistance. 

However, media reports emerged alleging that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin assured Kyiv that despite the temporary halt in arms supplies, Ukraine will get a new batch of weapons including long-range missiles.

Among the military aid that the US has provided since the start of the full-scale war are HIMARS, howitzers, artillery, air defense and ammunition. However, the US had limited the type of HIMARS ammunition it provided, which meant Ukraine could only attack within about 50 miles (80.47 kilometers) of the front.

After another Russian barrage on Ukraine, observers say the Ukrainian army may finally get weapons to mount the long-range campaign against Russia.