ATACMS Going to Ukraine!
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"They could be really significant, right?"
Hello Team!
Jonathan had just gone to get a cup of tea when this breaking news came out. He welcomes viewers to this Ukraine War Breaking News Update video.
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ATACMS missiles to be sent to Ukraine
- According to NBC News, President Biden has told President Zelenskyy that the US will send a small number of ATACMS long-range missiles to Ukraine
- ATACMS can be fired from HIMARS and have a much longer range (300 km) than the GMLRS rockets (84 km range) that Ukraine currently has
- This will allow Ukraine to strike targets like supply lines, railways, command and control locations behind the Russian front lines, including in occupied territories
- Jonathan had previously discussed the reasons why the US may have been hesitant to provide ATACMS, but he believes those arguments are no longer valid, especially since the US has agreed to provide F-16s which would be more escalatory
- The specific variant and quantity of ATACMS to be provided is still being debated
- Jonathan believes the timing of this announcement, after Zelenskyy's US visit, is deliberate but the exact rationale is unclear. Some viewers had predicted this would happen.
Shift in US stance on weapons for Ukraine
The US has gradually shifted its stance on providing various weapon systems to Ukraine, initially withholding approval for things like Stingers, howitzers, anti-ship missiles and HIMARS but later allowing them. They also recently agreed to provide cluster munitions despite some opposition.
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Ongoing situation on the frontlines
- Ukrainian troops have breached Russia's first defensive lines in the south and made some progress in the east, but have yet to achieve a decisive breakthrough
- Ukraine has been conducting strikes deep behind Russian lines, including in occupied Crimea where the Black Sea Fleet HQ was hit today
- There are some concerns about ongoing allied support, with a report that Poland will stop sending arms, but Jonathan notes this has been refuted by the Polish PM
Wrap up
Jonathan reiterates that this is good news for Ukraine and while the ATACMS may not be the perfect weapon, Ukraine needs everything it can get. He hopes the reports are accurate and wishes Ukraine luck in using them effectively.
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