United States President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. will deliver more modern rocket systems to Ukraine with the potential to strike what he termed "critical targets" of the Russian invasion force.
According to two senior administration officials, the advanced rocket systems are part of a new $700 million tranche of U.S. security assistance for Ukraine that will also include helicopters, Javelin anti-tank missile systems, tactical vehicles, and loads of spare parts.
Under the condition of anonymity, the officials previewed the weapons package that will be officially unveiled on Wednesday.
The United States' decision to give Ukraine with advanced rocket systems attempts to find a compromise between the need to aid Ukraine in its fight against furious Russian artillery barrages and the desire to prevent Ukraine from striking deep within Russia and escalating the conflict.
Biden revealed in an op-ed published Tuesday evening in The New York Times that he had decided to "give the Ukrainians with more powerful rocket launchers and ammunition that will allow them to strike vital targets on the battlefield in Ukraine with greater precision."
Biden stated on Monday that the United States will not provide Ukraine with "rocket missiles capable of striking Russia." If a military system is close enough to the Russian border, it can fire into the country.
The aid package slated to be announced on Wednesday will include what the U.S. deems medium-range rockets, which can typically reach approximately 45 miles, according to authorities.
According to top administration officials, Ukraine has promised U.S. authorities that it will not launch rockets into Russian territory.
One official emphasized that the improved rocket launchers will allow Ukrainian forces to strike Russian assets within Ukraine with better precision.
It is anticipated that Ukraine will utilize the rockets in the eastern Donbas region, where they will be able to intercept Russian artillery and eliminate Russian positions in places with intensive combat, such as Sievierodonetsk.
Sievierodonetsk is essential to Russian aspirations to seize the Donbas before additional Western armaments arrive to strengthen Ukraine's defenses.
Located 145 kilometers south of the Russian border, the city lies in the final enclave of the Donbas region under Ukrainian government control.
Biden wrote in his piece for the New York Times, "We are not encouraging or permitting Ukraine to attack outside its boundaries ... we do not wish to prolong the war in order to inflict suffering on Russia."
