Russian Ambassador Concerned US Will Send More HIMARS Rocket Artillery to Ukraine |
International Military - The statement by the Deputy Secretary of Defense of the United States (US) Colin Kahl about the possible increase in the supply of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) to Ukraine is very worrying.
According to Russia's Ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, the plan reveals Washington's direction towards escalating the conflict. "The fact that a high-ranking Pentagon official saw the possibility of expanding the supply of long-range systems is cause for extreme concern," he said.
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This statement can be seen as Washington's intention to move towards further escalation. It only confirms that America does not intend to see a peaceful solution, continued Antonov, as quoted by the TASS news agency, Wednesday (15/6/2022).
No wonder the official's remarks were made ahead of another meeting of the US and its allies to discuss Ukraine's military support. Apparently, this is the government's way of making his colleagues believe that there is no alternative but to supply the Kiev regime with more weapons, Antonov added.
Moscow also said it would respond immediately if Russia was attacked with long-range weapons systems. "We particularly highlight the delivery to Ukraine of long-range Howitzers and HIMARS MLRS which threaten not only Donbass but also Russia," said Konstantin Gavrilov, head of the Russian delegation for Military Security and Arms Control Negotiations.
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“We have clearly defined Russia's stance if the Russian Federation is attacked with this long range attack. system, the response to the decision-making center will be immediate," he stressed. Last week, the Biden administration announced that it would provide a new military aid package to Ukraine that would include shipments of HIMARS weapons and ammunition.
It is said that the first batch will include four rocket systems. US officials previously said that the strike range of the HIMARS wheeled light rocket launcher would not exceed 80 kilometers.
As Washington insists, Kiev provides assurances that US rocket systems will not be used to strike targets on Russian soil. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stressed that Kiev's assurances that it would not use this US-made weapons system against targets on Russian soil were meaningless and unreliable.
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Earlier this month, US President Joe Biden announced a new military aid package for Ukraine amid Kiev's territorial losses to Russian troops in the Donbass. Among the heavy weapons in the package is the multi-launch rocket system, HIMARS, which can carry long-range missiles.
"Today, I am announcing a significant new security assistance package to provide timely and critical assistance to the Ukrainian military," Biden said.
He explained, the new package will arm them with new capabilities and advanced weaponry, including HIMARS with battlefield ammunition, to defend their territory against Russian attacks.