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The United States sends long-range bombs to Ukraine after months of suffering

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The United States has agreed to send long-range bombs to Ukraine after months of suffering, US officials said Thursday, as Kyiv prepares to launch a spring offensive to recapture territory captured by Russia last year.

The officials stressed that the new weapons will be twice the range of any other offensive weapon provided by America.

Several US officials said the United States will provide ground-launched small-diameter bombs as part of a $2.17 billion aid package expected to be announced on Friday.

The package also includes for the first time equipment to link the various air defense systems that the Western Allies have rushed onto the battlefield, and integrate them into the Kviv’s air defenses to help them better defend against Russia’s ongoing missile attacks.

For months, U.S. officials hesitated to send long-range systems to Ukraine for fear they would be used to target inside Russia, escalating the conflict and drawing the United States deeper.

The long-range bombs are the latest advanced system, like the Abrams tanks and the Patriot missile defense system, that the United States eventually agreed to supply to Ukraine after initially refusing. However, US officials continued to deny Ukraine’s requests for fighter jets.

Ukrainian leaders pressed urgently for long-range munitions, and officials said Thursday that the United States would send an undisclosed number of small-diameter ground bombs, which have a range of about 95 miles (150 kilometers). The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details of the yet-to-be-announced aid package.

To date, the longest missile supplied by the United States is about 50 miles (80 kilometers). Funding in the aid package is for long-term purchases, so it was not clear on Thursday how long it would take for the bomb to reach the battlefield in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Defense Minister Olesky Reznikov said Thursday that his country is ready to give guarantees to its Western partners that their weapons will not be used to strike inside Russian territory, adding that Kyiv needs weapons with a range of up to 300 kilometers (186 miles). Expulsion of Russian forces.

“If we manage to strike at a distance of up to 300 km, the Russian army will not be able to establish a defense and will have to withdraw. And Ukraine is ready to give guarantees that your weapons will not be involved in attacks on Russian forces. We have goals,” Reznikov said at a meeting with EU officials. enough in the occupied regions of Ukraine, and we are ready to coordinate on (these) targets with our partners.”

The US aid package includes $425 million in ammunition and support equipment that will be drawn from existing Pentagon stockpiles and $1.75 billion in new funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to buy new weapons from industry.

The USA, which will pay for long-range bombs and air defense system integration, is also financing two HAWK air defense systems, anti-aircraft guns and ammunition, and anti-drone systems.

Since the Russian invasion last February, Western allies have pledged countless air defense systems to Ukraine to augment Kiev’s Soviet-made S-300 surface-to-air missile defense systems, and the latest aid package aims to provide the ability to integrate them. All of which could improve Ukraine’s ability to protect itself from upcoming Russian attacks.

The United States has pledged National Advanced Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, or NASAMS, and truck-launched Avenger short-range air defense systems. The Netherlands, Germany and the United States are sending Patriot missile defense systems; Germany sends IRIS-T medium-range air defense systems; Spain is sending Aspide anti-aircraft air defense systems.

Reuters first reported the addition of long-range bombs to the latest aid package.

Ukraine is still seeking F-16 fighter jets, which US President Joe Biden has opposed sending since the start of the war. Asked on Monday if his administration was considering sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, Biden replied, “No.”

On Tuesday, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov was asked if Biden’s “no” to the F-16s was the final word.

“All types of assistance first went through a ‘no’ phase, which just means ‘no’ for now. The second phase is ‘let’s talk and study technical possibilities.’ The third phase is, ‘Let’s train your staff.’ The fourth phase is transfer ( hardware).

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