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The top U.S. defense official on Tuesday played down Ukraine’s request for long-range missiles but pledged to meet Kiev’s “most urgent” air defense needs, just days before President Volodymyr Zelensky was expected to request more military aid from Washington.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the Biden administration is focused on increasing support for the Ukraine war effort but remains lukewarm on providing the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and long-range warheads that can strike at longer ranges.
Austin said he would not “try to assess” Kiev’s requirements for the missile system, but said the United States was more focused on “what Ukraine’s most pressing needs are.”
The U.S. defense secretary’s comments come as the Biden administration considers a strategy to continue arming Ukraine against Russian occupying forces without providing Kyiv with weapons that could be used to attack Russian territory.
Ukraine has requested ATACMS for months, but the United States has been concerned about running out of its stockpile due to rising tensions with China over Taiwan. President Biden may make another decision on whether to provide ATACMS to Ukraine as soon as this week.
Speaking at Ramstein Air Base in Germany at a meeting of about 50 countries assisting the Kiev war effort, Austin urged allies to “dig deep” to provide more air defense as Russia continues to bombard military and civilian targets across Ukraine. assets.
“We’ve done a solid job getting some air defense capabilities, but there’s still a lot of work to do,” Austin said. “I have every confidence they’re going to go back and dig deeper.”
Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reiterated that message, saying Ukraine’s top priority was acquiring more air defense, artillery and armor.
Milley said Russia still has 200,000 to 300,000 troops in Ukraine, many of whom are conscripts. He added that Ukrainian forces do not plan to suspend fighting this winter, but muddy weather could hinder operations until the ground freezes.
“The Ukrainians have penetrated multiple layers of defense,” the U.S. general said. “While not 100 percent penetrated, they have penetrated several layers and they are moving very slowly to preserve their combat effectiveness and are very Deliberately crossing this defensive belt that stretched the entire length and width of Russian-occupied Ukraine.
“It’s an uphill battle for Ukraine to militarily dislodge the two to three hundred thousand Russian troops that still exist… There’s still a lot to do. This battle is not over yet.”
Zelensky is due to visit Washington on Thursday to make the case for more support to the U.S. Congress as it debates whether to provide more funding for Kiev’s war. Zelensky will also meet with Biden and visit the Pentagon.
Austin and Milley will hold a classified briefing on Wednesday on Biden’s request for $24 billion in additional Ukraine aid to the full Senate. Some Republicans in Congress are more skeptical of the Ukrainian president’s request for support and have criticized the United States for continuing to fund Kiev’s war effort.
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