Biden considers arming Ukraine with advanced cruise missiles

According to Politico, Joe Biden is "open" to providing Ukraine with long-range JASSM cruise missiles. This type of weapon would significantly enhance the combat capabilities of Ukraine’s F-16 fighters.

According to the portal, which cites an administration representative, although a final decision on transferring JASSM has not yet been made, it is already being technically and formally prepared. This includes adapting Ukrainian fighters to this type of ammunition. The Pentagon and the White House have neither officially confirmed nor denied the portal's reports.

JASSM is a relatively new air-to-ground cruise missile with a range of up to 370 kilometres and a 450-kilogram warhead. In the Ukrainian arsenal, it could serve a similar role to the Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles already provided by the United Kingdom and France, namely for strikes deep behind enemy lines.

On Thursday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby announced that another package of weapons for Ukraine would be announced soon, but he did not provide any details.

Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, who, along with his Republican colleague Lindsey Graham, visited Kyiv this week, announced that they would propose a new package of support measures for Ukraine and aim to pass it by the end of the year. The last package, amounting to £49 billion, was adopted in April, and the funds were supposed to last a year.

The politicians also want to codify the provisions of the bilateral US-Ukraine security agreement to prevent future administrations from abandoning it.