U.S. Denies Ukraine ATACMS Missiles in $325 Million Aid Package

The Biden administration is nearing a decision to provide Ukraine with ATACMS long-range missiles armed with cluster bomblets, which could allow Ukraine to strike targets behind Russian front lines. The cluster-armed ATACMS missiles are more plentiful than those with a single warhead and are no longer considered a front-line U.S. weapon. The decision comes as the U.S. announced an additional $325 million in weapons for Ukraine, including cluster munitions, artillery ammunition, and anti-armor capabilities. The use of cluster munitions has drawn criticism due to the risk they pose to civilians, but the Pentagon has stated that the dud rate of the munitions being sent to Ukraine is low.