The United States has not yet agreed to provide Ukraine with long-range MLRS 270 multiple rocket launchers.

Politico reports about this, citing sources in the Biden Administration and the Ukrainian authorities.

The reason for holding this decision back is Washington’s fear of further “escalation”. The Americans are worried that the weapons could be used to launch strikes within Russia.

Another argument on the US side is that instead of a limited number of MLRS, it would more effective and efficient to ship M777 towed howitzers and their ammunition because you can send more of them.

This position is disappointing for the Ukrainian side, the newspaper writes. Ukraine needs means to take advantage in the fighting in Donbas, and M270 MLRS could be this means given its long-range capabilities. The longer the West dithers over sending the full complement of weapons it needs, the direr the consequences for Ukraine’s civilians. This offers Russia more time to conduct sham local elections in the areas it controls.

On April 28, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated that the United States is moving as quickly as possible to provide Ukraine with long-range fire capabilities.

“These are the kind of things they are requesting. They (Ukraine-Ed.) believe that long-range fires will be key in our efforts going forward. We are moving as quickly as we can to provide those capabilities,” said the US Secretary of Defense.

The Minister of Defense of Ukraine, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the President of Ukraine have repeatedly stated that they seek to obtain M270 MLRS and HIMARS multiple rocket launchers from the United States. Both systems are capable of firing MGM-140 ATACMS missiles. Various missiles of this system have a firing range between 165 to 300 km.