US confirms secret delivery of long-range missiles to Ukraine
The US has announced that long-range ballistic missiles, which Ukraine has long requested, were secretly delivered to Kyiv.
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US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel answered questions from journalists at a press briefing.
Patel stated that, under the instruction of President Joe Biden, the long-range missiles known as the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) were delivered, but that they did not announce the shipment at Ukraine's request.
Noting that Biden ordered the shipment of ATACMS to Ukraine in February, Patel stated that the missiles began to be sent as part of the military aid package announced in March and reached Ukraine this month.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also stated in his remarks to reporters that the deliveries were made following "Russia's purchase of ballistic missiles from North Korea and their use against Ukraine, as well as the increase in attacks on civilian infrastructure."
EMERGENCY MILITARY SUPPORT PACKAGE HAD BEEN ANNOUNCED
ATACMS missiles are known to have the capacity to strike targets at a distance of approximately 300 kilometers.
The US administration had announced on March 12 that it would send a 300 million dollar "emergency military support" package to Kyiv.
US President Biden stated yesterday, after signing the 61 billion dollar military aid package for Ukraine, that they would begin sending aid to Kyiv immediately.