U.S. President Joe Biden has just confirmed that additional long-range munitions will be provided to Ukraine.
Ukraine has long campaigned for its allies—primarily the U.S. and the U.K.—to allow Kyiv to attack Russia using Western-supplied missiles.
In a series of announcements about U.S. support for Ukraine, President Biden stated that he had “decided to provide Ukraine with the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) long-range munitions.”
However, he did not clarify whether Ukraine would be given permission to strike Russian territory with these additional munitions, according to Sky News.
President Biden said: “For nearly three years, the U.S. has rallied the world to stand with the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom from Russian aggression.”
“It has been a top priority of my administration to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to prevail,” the American leader added.
Confirming an “increase” in security assistance for Ukraine, Biden announced:
- Around $2.4 billion in funding for Ukraine through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. This will provide Ukraine with additional air defense and air-to-ground munitions;
- The U.S. will supply Ukraine with the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) long-range munitions;
- Ukraine will also receive “hundreds of additional Patriot and AMRAAM missiles over the next year”;
- Training will be expanded for Ukrainian F-16 pilots, including supporting the training of an additional 18 pilots next year;
- The U.S. has also “taken action today to disrupt a global cryptocurrency network, in coordination with international partners”;
- The U.S. will continue to increase the cost to Russia for its war in Ukraine and deprive the Russian defense industry of critical resources;
- Biden also pledged to call a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany to coordinate the efforts of 50 nations supporting Ukraine.
He concluded: “Through these actions, my message is clear: the U.S. will provide Ukraine with the support it needs to win this war.”
