Biden arming Ukrainians with ‘more advanced rocket systems and munitions’

President Joe Biden said Tuesday night that he would be arming Ukraine with ‘more advanced rocket systems and munitions,’ in a new op-ed for The New York Times outlining, ‘What America Will and Will Not Do in Ukraine.’ 

The use of the medium-range rocket systems will be restricted to be used only in Ukraine, White House officials said. 

‘The Ukrainians have given us assurances that they will not use these systems against targets in Russian territory, and so based on those assurances we are very comfortable they will not,’ a senior White House official said on a call with reporters. 

President Joe Biden said Tuesday night that he would be arming Ukraine with ‘more advanced rocket systems and munitions,’ in a new op-ed for The New York Times outlining, ‘What America Will and Will Not Do in Ukraine’ 

Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines of the fight in the Donbas region. The new weapons could be used to attack Russian forces in this part of Ukraine 

Additionally, the White House said it would not be providing Ukraine with longer-range systems. 

Biden’s op-ed was published on the eve of the 11th package of security assistance for the war in Ukraine being announced.  

‘We will continue providing Ukraine with advanced weaponry, including Javelin anti-tank missiles, Stinger antiaircraft missiles, powerful artillery and precision rocket systems, radars, unmanned aerial vehicles, Mi-17 helicopters and ammunition,’ Biden said. 

That package, worth $700 million, will include HMARS – High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems – and ammunition, counter-fire radars, a number of air surveillance radars, additional Javelins, anti-armor weapons, more artillery rounds, several helicopters, additional tactical vehicles and a spare parts package, a White House official said. 

Smoke rises in the city of Severodonetsk during heavy fightings between Ukrainian and Russian troops at eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas

Administration officials were pressed several times on whether Ukraine’s leadership had pledged not to use the new rockets on the border to shoot inside Russia – before saying they had made that agreement. 

The rockets can travel around 48 miles.  

‘We are not encouraging or enabling Ukraine to strike beyond its borders,’ Biden said in the op-ed. 

‘We do not want to prolong the war just to inflict pain on Russia,’ the president also offered. 

Ukrainian forces are expected to use the rockets to target Russian forces in the Donbas region.  

The package will be the first financed by the most recent supplemental appropriations bill passed by Congress, which Biden signed into law during his trip to Asia.