Vice Marshal of the UK Air Force, Sean Bell, who recently retired, has expressed concerns over the US plan to supply ATACMS missiles to Ukraine. In an interview with Sky News, Bell stated that these missiles could potentially end up on the black market. He further explained that the ATACMS missiles have the capability to strike deep into Russian territory, which could lead to an escalation of the conflict. Therefore, the US wants to ensure that these missiles will not be used in such a manner.
The decision to provide long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine has already been made by the administration of US President Joe Biden. However, the announcement has not been made public in order to avoid tipping off Russia. The fear is that public disclosure could prompt the Russians to move their supply lines further away from the front lines.
According to reports, the transfer of these missiles will take place in small quantities initially. On September 20th, Foreign Policy magazine, citing a source in the congressional apparatus, reported that all American agencies have approved the supply of ATACMS missiles to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. However, the final decision still rests with President Joe Biden.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, called on critics of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ offensive to refrain from voicing their concerns.
