U.S. President Joe Biden edges closer the decision to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles, states the British newspaper Financial Times.
"The United States has long been wary of Ukraine's request to supply it with the so-called ATACMS, a tactical ballistic missile with a range of up to 300 km, due to concerns about limited stockpiles and the fact that it could be used to strike Russian territory, leading to an escalation of the conflict," the newspaper notes.
However, the United States is still considering this step. The UK and France have already sent such weapons to Ukraine this year.
"All proposals are relevant. We have not decided to announce new assistance, but our position all along has been that we will provide Ukraine with the capabilities that will allow it to succeed on the battlefield," John Feiner, deputy national security adviser, told reporters during Biden's trip from New Delhi to Vietnam on Sunday.
"A decision could be made soon," a senior Biden administration official said on Saturday.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba discussed with his American counterpart the supply of weapons, including long-range ATACMS missiles. During the conversation, it was said that this option remains considerable.