The U.S. authorities are working to provide Ukraine with modern modifications of ATACMS ballistic missiles with a longer range than previous similar missiles sent to Kyiv, NBC News reports, citing unnamed American officials.

“After months of requests from Ukrainian officials, the Biden administration is working toward providing Ukraine with powerful new long-range ballistic missiles. (…)Now, the U.S. is leaning toward sending the longer-range version of the ATACMS missile,” the TV channel informs.

According to NBC News interlocutors, if Congress approves additional financing for Ukraine, the United States may include the new ATACMS in one of the first military aid packages of this year. At the same time, Washington is ready to send ammunition and artillery to Kyiv.

Officials did not rule out the possibility that Washington could ask allies to provide Ukraine with their missiles, as well as replenish American stocks of ATACMS.

Pentagon officials, in turn, said that the United States has a limited supply of ATACMS, and that missiles are unlikely to be sent to Ukraine without the opportunity to replenish their arsenals.

Last October, it was reported that Washington had secretly supplied Kyiv with long-range ATACMS missiles. Politico noted that for the first time, the United States provided Ukraine with equipment capable of hitting targets far behind the front line.

Biden was hesitant to supply ATACMS for some time, fearing an escalation of the conflict. However, in September 2023, at a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he promised to supply Kyiv with a small number of ATACMS missiles.