U.S. to send Ukraine advanced rocket systems, Biden confirms
President Biden on Tuesday confirmed the U.S. is sending medium-range advanced rocket systems to Ukraine, per Ukrainian officials' request.
In an essay published in The New York Times, Biden said the weapons will enable Ukrainians to "more precisely strike key targets on the battlefield," while simultaneously noting that the U.S. is not "encouraging or enabling Ukraine to strike beyond its borders," nor does the U.S. "seek a war between NATO and Russia."
Despite such assurances, Moscow was not happy with Biden's decision. "We believe that the United States is deliberately and diligently 'pouring fuel on the fire,'" Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a Wednesday news briefing, per The Washington Post. "Such deliveries do not contribute to … the Ukrainian leadership's willingness to resume peace talks."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The U.S. will send the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, for short, as part of a new $700 million military equipment package for Kyiv. Ukrainians currently use a Russian-made version of the HIMARS system, a U.S. official told the Post.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
Political cartoons for January 18Cartoons Sunday’s political cartoons include cost of living, endless supply of greed, and more
-
Exploring ancient forests on three continentsThe Week Recommends Reconnecting with historic nature across the world
-
How oil tankers have been weaponisedThe Explainer The seizure of a Russian tanker in the Atlantic last week has drawn attention to the country’s clandestine shipping network
-
What would a UK deployment to Ukraine look like?Today's Big Question Security agreement commits British and French forces in event of ceasefire
-
Would Europe defend Greenland from US aggression?Today’s Big Question ‘Mildness’ of EU pushback against Trump provocation ‘illustrates the bind Europe finds itself in’
-
Is conscription the answer to Europe’s security woes?Today's Big Question How best to boost troop numbers to deal with Russian threat is ‘prompting fierce and soul-searching debates’
-
Trump peace deal: an offer Zelenskyy can’t refuse?Today’s Big Question ‘Unpalatable’ US plan may strengthen embattled Ukrainian president at home
-
The Baltic ‘bog belt’ plan to protect Europe from RussiaUnder the Radar Reviving lost wetland on Nato’s eastern flank would fuse ‘two European priorities that increasingly compete for attention and funding: defence and climate’
-
How should Nato respond to Putin’s incursions?Today’s big question Russia has breached Nato airspace regularly this month, and nations are primed to respond
-
What will bring Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table?Today’s Big Question With diplomatic efforts stalling, the US and EU turn again to sanctions as Russian drone strikes on Poland risk dramatically escalating conflict
-
The mission to demine UkraineThe Explainer An estimated quarter of the nation – an area the size of England – is contaminated with landmines and unexploded shells from the war
