US not providing ATACMS missiles to Ukraine over fears it will lack supplies to repel its own threats, - Politico
The US is worried that it will not have enough long-range missiles to repel its own threats. It is for this reason that Ukraine will not receive ATACMS yet.
As reported by Censor.NET, RBC-Ukraine reports this with reference to Politico.
According to the publication's sources, during recent meetings in the Pentagon, US officials informed representatives of Kyiv that the US does not have spare army tactical missile systems, and the transfer of ATACMS will reduce the reserves and damage the readiness of the US army to repel its threats.
The US is also concerned that Ukraine will use its long-range missiles to strike deep into Russian territory and that this could indeed be a crossing of the red line. However, since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, the Pentagon has not reassessed its own stockpiles.
"With any package, we always consider our readiness and our stockpiles, providing Ukraine with what it needs on the battlefield. There are other ways to give Ukraine the capabilities it needs to strike targets," the Pentagon official said.
Over the past two decades, Lockheed Martin has produced approximately 4,000 ATACMS in various configurations. Some of these missiles were sold to allied countries, which bought the missiles for their own salvo systems. About 600 were launched by US forces during the Gulf War and the Iraq War.
According to another interlocutor of the publication, Kyiv is considering the idea of obtaining Washington's permission to purchase ATACMS from an allied country that operates this weapon, with funds provided by the United States as part of the aid. ATACMS, in particular, is in service with South Korea, Poland, Romania, Greece, Turkey, Qatar, and Bahrain.
The other issue with ATACMS supply -- an over-aggressive move by the Biden team -- remains. But Ukrainian officials have already heard such arguments about other weapons, but the Biden administration changed course and sent artillery, anti-missile defense systems, and tanks, the publication writes.
Another Politico source close to the Ukrainian government said the aid package Austin will announce this week after tomorrow's Ramstein-style meeting will not include new weapons -- F-16s and ATACMS missiles. The aid package will focus on ammunition, air defense missiles, and spare parts for military equipment.
