White House explains why US sent Ukraine ATACMS missiles back in March
Jake Sullivan, National Security Adviser to the US President, has confirmed media reports that Ukraine has already received ATACMS missiles and explained why the weapons were handed over back in March.
Source: Jake Sullivan during a briefing at the White House on 24 April, European Pravda reports
Quote: "That shipment started moving in March as part of the PDA [a mechanism that allows the US president to transfer weapons from army stockpiles – ed.] that the president authorised on 12 March, and those missiles have arrived in Ukraine."
Details: Sullivan said that in February, US President Joe Biden ordered that Ukraine be provided with "a significant number of ATACMS missiles for use inside Ukraine’s sovereign territory".
Biden's adviser noted that Washington made the decision on ATACMS after Russia used North Korean ballistic missiles against Ukraine and began massive attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Sullivan also reiterated that the main reason for not providing Ukraine with ATACMS had been "because of readiness concerns" [US combat readiness – ed.], but these were overcome by ordering a significant batch of the missiles from the manufacturers.
"And as a result, we can move forward with providing ATACMS while also sustaining the readiness of US forces," he concluded.
Background:
- Reports in the US media said, citing sources, that Ukraine received ATACMS as part of a previous US$300 million military aid package announced in March, and has used them at least twice against Russian targets in temporarily occupied Crimea and Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
- As reported on 24 April, US President Joe Biden signed legislation enacted by Congress that provides for about US$61 billion in additional military and economic aid to Ukraine, as well as help for other US allies.
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