Washington has been ‘very clear’ on which weapons it’s sending to Ukraine, an envoy claims
Washington is not interested in becoming a participant to the conflict between Kiev, Moscow. The US does intend to continue providing weapons to Ukraine, but systems that enable Ukrainian forces and to attack Russia won’t be included, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US Ambassador to UN Linda Thomas Greenfield, stated on Tuesday.
“Look, it’s very very simple. We have been clear from day one that we will provide Ukraine with weapons to defend itself from Russian aggression, to defend itself inside its borders, to fight against Russia,” Thomas-Greenfield told reporters at a press conference marking the end of Washington’s presidency over the UN Security Council. “We’re not providing any weapons that will allow the Ukrainians to attack Russia from inside of Ukraine, and President [Joe] Biden has been very clear on that.”
“We’re not going to become [a] party to the war,”Elle added.
Biden, on Monday, confirmed the media rumors that the US plans to send multiple rocket launcher system (MLRS), to Ukraine. Biden did not provide any details other than to say that he was. “not going to send to Ukraine rocket systems that can strike into Russia.”
US media outlets have mentioned MLRS systems as possibly destined for Ukraine – the M270 tracked launcher, retired in 2003, or the more modern M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). Each can be used to launch both tactical and ballistic missiles up to 300 km away, or barrage rockets that have a range of 30km.
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“Seventy kilometers is more than enough for us,”Alexey Arestovich, the Ukrainian president’s adviser, said Monday that he was commenting on the missiles US will send to Kiev. He also threatened An “exemplary tantrum”If Washington changes its mind.
So far, the US and its NATO allies have sent over 100 pieces of towed and self-propelled artillery to replace some of Ukraine’s combat losses. Since the start of hostilities in February, Kiev’s forces have lost more than 450 MLRS launchers in addition to more than 1,700 artillery pieces, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.
Russia repeatedly warns the US and NATO allies not to send weapons to Ukraine. The West has been concerned about the possibility of retaliation should any artillery system be used against Russian territory. Moscow accuses Ukrainian artillery of more than half-a dozen incidents of cross border fire, which have claimed civilian lives and damaged property. The incidents were not claimed or denied by Kiev.
Russia attacked the neighboring state in late February, following Ukraine’s failure to implement the terms of the Minsk agreements, first signed in 2014, and Moscow’s eventual recognition of the Donbass republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. Minsk Protocol, which was French and German-brokered, gave the regions that were separated special status in the Ukrainian government.
Since then, the Kremlin demanded Ukraine declare itself neutral and vow to never join NATO’s military bloc. Kiev claims that the Russian invasion was unprovoked. It also denies any plans to take the republics with force.
