Biden says the US will not send missile systems to Ukraine that can reach Russia

President Biden On Monday, the United States said the United States would not send missile systems to Ukraine that could reach Russia, after reports that the administration was preparing to send long-range systems to the embattled European ally.

Multiple outlets reported that the administration was leaning toward sending long-range missile systems to the United States Ukrainewhich is currently countering the invasion of Moscow – and to which the United States provides significant economic and military support.

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Biden was asked about the possible move by reporters outside the White House and said his administration would not send Ukrainian missile systems that would strike Russia.

The Washington Post reports that the administration is considering providing the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), which would allow the Ukrainians to launch missiles farther than they currently can.

The MLRS has reportedly been a key request from Ukrainian officials, who have said they need it to stem the advance of Russian forces in the east, which took control of the main city of Lyman last week.

The Washington Post reported that the State Department said the White House had concerns that providing Ukraine with the MLRS system could lead to a situation in which Ukrainians fire missiles into Russian territory — potentially leading to a significant escalation of the conflict. Officials have reportedly considered managing the risks by withholding some of the longer-range missiles available.

Russia vehemently opposed the West’s moves to supply arms to Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to the leaders of France and Germany on Saturday and warned them against continued arms transfers to Ukraine.

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Meanwhile, Russia’s ambassador to the United States said that any move by America to send long-range missile systems to Ukraine would be “unacceptable” and demanded “Washington not take such a provocative step.”

Rebecca Kofler, a former DIA intelligence officer and author of “Putin Playbook,” said sending these systems to Ukraine would be seen as an escalation by Moscow, which comes with significant risks and a potential Russian response.

“Whether or not we think we’re climbing the ladder is irrelevant, it’s how the Russians perceive it, because they act on it,” she said.

Koffler said another motivation for Biden may be concern about how Ukrainians will use the systems.

“Maybe he doesn’t trust [Ukrainian President] Zelensky In using the regimes wisely because Zelensky has been very clear that he does not want to cede any territory to Russia, does not want to concede at all, but rather wants to take back Crimea, which is very unlikely,” he said. “And perhaps the concern is that Ukraine might misuse it. , causing an uncontrollable escalation that could potentially draw the United States into the conflict and potentially lead to Russian cyberattacks on the United States in order to deter us, and things could get out of hand very quickly.”

It also noted that Russia sought to deter Washington from sending the systems to Ukraine by testing a hypersonic missile this week.

“This test of highly advanced technology was certainly Moscow’s signal to Washington that Russia would be willing to take this conflict to the next level on the escalation ladder if Ukraine was supplied with weapons far beyond its current capabilities,” she said.

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The Biden administration has received criticism from hardline Republicans for not moving fast enough to provide Ukraine with the systems. Senator Lindsey Graham said the administration was “slowing down” on the Ukrainian demand.

“Obviously providing Ukraine with this new capability raises fears among some in the Biden administration that it will be seen as provocative and escalatory in Putin’s eyes,” he wrote on Twitter.

It is time to stop Putin from dictating the actions of the free world.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.