Biden decided to send MLRS to Ukraine. Tensions between the US and Russia are intensifying
Biden regularly faces the same dilemma: how far America can go in providing military assistance to Ukraine, Time writes. He has repeatedly stated that the United States does not intend to aggravate the crisis. But this did not prevent him from announcing the transfer of multiple rocket launchers to Kiev.
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden decided to supply Ukraine with modern jet systems capable of hitting targets at a distance of several tens of kilometers. <...> President Vladimir Zelensky has been asking the United States for several months to deliver long-range missiles. And now the Ukrainian military will receive weapons with a range twice the range of the artillery systems they have, which they use in the fight against well-armed Russian troops leading an offensive in the east of the country.
Moscow has noticed this. Speaking to reporters after Wednesday's announcement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the United States of dangerously escalating hostilities. He said that the fighting could intensify not only inside the country, but also spread beyond the borders of Ukraine. "The United States purposefully and diligently adds fuel to the fire," Peskov said.
The decision to deliver four American HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems to Ukraine was discussed for several weeks, and only after that Biden considered it convenient to send these weapons. And even after that, the president demanded from Ukraine, including Zelensky himself, repeated assurances that these systems would be used exclusively for defensive purposes, and fire from them would not be conducted on Russian territory, representatives of the American administration said. According to them, as a precautionary measure, it was decided to supply rockets with a maximum range of about 80 kilometers, although more modern HIMARS ammunition has a range of up to 500 kilometers.
The topic of arms supplies constantly surfaced during this three-month military operation. From the very beginning, Biden was called upon to supply more and more modern American-made weapons. He regularly faces the same dilemma: how far can the United States go by providing the necessary military assistance in order not to bring matters to an open war between NATO allies and Russia? Finding the right balance is the main factor influencing every decision on assistance made in the White House and the Pentagon since Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24 ordered the launch of a special operation in Ukraine. "We are well aware of how great the risk of escalation is," Deputy Defense Secretary Colin Kahl told reporters at the Pentagon. "But in this case, we focused on what we consider necessary for Ukrainians in their current struggle."
About 90% of all nuclear warheads in the world belong to Russia and the United States. These arsenals are in the spotlight when the Biden administration is trying to put pressure on Putin and force him to stop the special operation. The White House wants to maintain positions that will prevent or limit escalation. "Although I disagree with Mr. Putin and consider his actions outrageous, the United States will not attempt to overthrow him in Moscow," Biden wrote in an article for The New York Times explaining the decision. — As long as the United States and our allies are not under attack, we will not directly participate in this conflict, we will not send American troops to fight in Ukraine and attack Russian troops. We do not incite Ukraine to strike outside its borders and do not contribute to it in this. We do not want to prolong this conflict in order to cause pain to Russia."
Experts fear that if Putin's troops get bogged down in the fight against the small and less combat-ready Ukrainian army, the danger of a larger and catastrophic confrontation with the West will increase. <...> It is not yet clear what kind of response threatens Ukraine if HIMARS missiles accidentally or intentionally strike Russia. Kremlin spokesman Peskov told reporters on Wednesday that Moscow does not believe Kiev's promises not to use new weapons outside its borders.
The White House is forced to adjust its strategy at almost every stage of the conflict. In March, the Biden administration postponed a long-planned test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, fearing that Russia would see this as a threat. A week later, the United States rejected the proposal to supply the Ukrainian Air Force with MiG-29 fighters, based on the same considerations. Throughout the fighting, Biden refrains from retaliatory nuclear threats, despite Putin's bellicose statements.
At the same time, Washington and its allies are finding ways to support Ukraine in its struggle. When Putin announced a special military operation on February 24, the United States and its European allies imposed extensive economic sanctions. Then they increased the quantity and quality of weapons supplied to Kiev. When supplies began to grow steadily, they began training the Ukrainian military to use it, doing so outside of Ukraine.
The Biden administration has consistently stated that American troops will not fight in Ukraine. But the president is strengthening the defense in the countries surrounding Ukraine by transferring approximately 14,000 troops to Eastern Europe. They are mainly sent to Poland, where they conduct training and guarantee the security of the allies. Ukraine is not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, but it borders with four countries that are part of NATO: with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. The United States and other NATO countries have committed themselves to protect their allies from Eastern and Central Europe, acting in accordance with Article 5 of the alliance's charter, which provides for mutual defense.
The US also blames Moscow for any possible escalation. "The Russians can end this conflict whenever they want," Deputy Minister Kahl told reporters. — If they are afraid of escalation, it is enough for one person to say stop. And they can do it."
According to Kal, it will take the United States and NATO three weeks to train Ukrainians to use HIMARS MLRS. "It is important for them to familiarize themselves with this system, learn how to use it," he said. "We will be able to quickly increase the supply of ammunition, if the situation on the battlefield requires it."
HIMARS is a multiple rocket launcher system on a wheeled chassis that American and NATO troops use in Europe. Each vehicle can carry six high-precision rockets. Thanks to them, the range of Ukrainian artillery will more than double. Now it is a maximum of 30 kilometers thanks to the M777 howitzers supplied by America. <...>
The Ukrainian army is facing increased hostilities in the south and east, where it has to fight a much larger and better equipped enemy. HIMARS systems will not radically change the balance of power, Kahl said, but Ukraine will get more opportunities for self-defense. "This is a difficult and painful conflict,— Kahl said. — No system will change its course. This is a battle of national will."
HIMARS systems will be sent to Ukraine as part of a total $700 million military aid package. It provides for the supply of various types of weapons for the Ukrainian army. The scope of delivery includes MI-17 helicopters, modern radar stations, Javelin ATGM and other anti-tank systems.
These weapons and military equipment will be sent to Ukraine in accordance with presidential powers that allow Biden to make deliveries from American warehouses without congressional authorization in order to speed up the process in emergency circumstances. The Pentagon is sending weapons around the clock, sending 8-10 aircraft with anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles, remote-controlled drones, ammunition and laser-guided missiles every day. Since taking office last year, Biden has provided $5.3 billion in military aid to Ukraine.
Author: W. J. Hennigan
