In a major move to strengthen its military capabilities, the United States has secretly delivered a long-range Atacms missile system to Ukraine. The decision to send the missile system was approved by President Joe Biden in February, and the shipment was kept secret to prevent Russia from being informed about its movement.
The new missile system has a range of more than 305 kilometers and was immediately deployed on the eastern front after arriving in Ukraine in April. Ukrainian forces have used the Atacms system to attack Russian military airfields in Crimea as well as against Russian troops in the southeastern part of the country.
Russia has strongly condemned the transmission of the long-range missiles, citing increased security threats to its territories. The Russian Ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, called the secret sending of the missiles unjustifiable, claiming that it poses a threat to regions including Crimea and Sevastopol which Russia considers part of its territory.
Despite these concerns, Russia had previously expressed interest in obtaining long-range Taurus missiles from Germany but Germany had been reluctant due to fears of an escalation of conflict. Scholz reiterated his decision not to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine during his visit to Berlin in March 2021. However, with this latest development Europe has expressed its commitment towards supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression. This move further complicates geopolitical landscape in Eastern Europe and is seen as an effort by NATO countries to de-escalate tensions with Russia.
The ongoing conflict between Russia and NATO continues to be a focus of international concern, with efforts being made by various countries like United States, Germany and others towards finding a peaceful solution.
