US believes Ukraine's use of long-range weapons has little strategic value
Pentagon deputy spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said on September 5 that the US believes that Ukraine's use of long-range weapons will have little strategic value.
According to RIA Novosti, Pentagon Deputy Spokesperson Sabrina Singh said on September 5 that the US believes that Ukraine's use of long-range weapons will have little strategic value and will not be able to access Russian military airports.
“The impact of this move will be very small and will have very little strategic value,” spokesman Singh said at a press conference, answering a question about why the US did not transfer long-range weapons to Ukraine.
A Pentagon spokesman cited US intelligence data as saying that “90% of the aircraft” participating in Russia’s special operations in Ukraine are deployed at airports located within 300 km of Ukrainian territory.
“These airfields are beyond the reach of the long-range ATACMS missiles, so they will not be able to reach those Russian airfields,” Ms. Singh said.
However, earlier on September 3, three anonymous US officials said that the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) AGM-158 would be included in the weapons aid package for Ukraine announced this fall, but Washington has not yet made an official decision. The AGM-158 missile has a range of 370 km and can carry a 450 kg warhead.
Meanwhile, according to Reuters, US officials are preparing to agree to provide Kiev with joint air-to-ground cruise missiles (ASSM). With a range of up to 900km, these missiles can be fired from F-16 fighter jets supplied to Ukraine by the West.
It is not yet clear how the US will act on the issue of providing long-range missiles to Ukraine.
On the Russian side, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: “The Americans have crossed the red line they set,” referring to Washington's reluctance to provide Ukraine with weapons capable of striking deep into Russian territory.
