The president of the United States, Joe Biden, ruled out on Monday the delivery to Ukraine of long-range military rocket launch systems capable of hitting Russia, despite repeated requests from kyiv for such weapons.
“We will not send ‘rocket’ systems to Ukraine that can reach the Russian countryside”Joe Biden told reporters Monday morning. The US press had claimed in recent days that Washington was preparing to deliver military long-range multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) to kyiv, after Congress approved an additional $40 billion ($37 billion) in aid to Ukraine.
US Senate Approves $40 Billion Aid to Ukraine
However, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby did not confirm the shipment of M270 MLRS, modern high-mobility vehicles with a firing range of 300 kilometers. A second type of system had been mentioned: the Himars, with a range of 70 to 150 kilometers. far superior to the M777 howitzer batteries, which are currently delivered to kyiv and whose effective range does not exceed 40 kilometers.
Ukrainian forces are currently fighting in the Donbass region, where the Russian offensive has intensified around key cities. Russian forces advanced into the center of Severodonetsk, which had been shelled for weeks. In that context, Ukrainian authorities asked the West for more weapons.
“Some partners avoid giving the necessary weapons for fear of escalation. Climbing, really? Russia already uses the heaviest non-nuclear weapons, burns people alive. Maybe it’s time (…) to give us MLRS? twitter Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the Ukrainian presidency.
That is ???????? Solntsepek flamethrower system. Some partners avoid giving the necessary weapons for fear of escalation. Climbing, seriously? RF already uses the heaviest non-nuclear weapons against ????????, burning people alive. Maybe it’s time to answer and give us MLRS? pic.twitter.com/6M1NFRw6xQ
— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) May 27, 2022
Russia launched a military offensive in Ukraine on February 24 that has killed more than 4,000 civilians, according to the UN, which warns the true toll is likely to be much higher.
The military offensive has caused the flight of more than eight million people, of which more than 6.6 million have left the country, according to the latest UN figures.
The Russian invasion was condemned by the international community at large, which responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and tightening economic and political sanctions on Moscow.
Source: Observadora
