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Joe Biden appears to have called Russia\u2019s bluff by telling Volodymyr Zelensky he will send Ukraine the \u201cwonder weapon\u201d ATACMS.<\/p>\n
The reportedly President made the announcement to his Ukrainian counterpart in the latest round of crunch talks between the two leaders today.<\/p>\n
After months of back and forth, it means Kyiv will be able to target 186 miles behind Russia\u2019s frontlines, and they will even be able to hit Crimea.<\/p>\n
While no confirmation has been made on when Ukraine can expect the ATACMS, Colonel Richard Kemp exclusively told Daily Express US that Vladimir Putin\u2019s likely \u201cbluster\u201d on the weapons \u201cwon\u2019t mean anything\u201d.<\/p>\n
READ MORE <\/strong> Huge blow for Putin as America hands Zelensky devastating ‘wonder weapon’<\/strong><\/p>\n Speaking to Daily Express US, the Afghanistan veteran said: \u201cRussia will do what they\u2019ve done for pretty much every major weapons decision, they\u2019ll start threatening and blustering, and it won\u2019t mean anything. It won\u2019t change anything.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen the UK decided to send tanks, that was a red line for the Russians and \u2018we will pay for that\u2019, and it doesn\u2019t amount to anything, because the Russians can\u2019t do anything about it.<\/p>\n \u201cThey can\u2019t intensify the conflict because they\u2019re throwing everything they can into the conflict.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re not going to attack NATO, they won\u2019t attempt to attack NATO supplies of ATACMS coming into Poland, because the last thing they want is a fight with NATO. That\u2019s what they don\u2019t want.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019ll be a lot of talking and blustering and threatening, but it won\u2019t actually mean anything.\u201d<\/p>\n Col. Kemp also told Daily Express US that that talks on Ukraine getting the ATACMS have \u201cbeen on and off for such a long time now, in a way I\u2019ll believe it when I see it\u201d.<\/p>\n But he added: \u201cIf it is going to happen it\u2019s very good news, it\u2019s very much needed by the Ukrainian and it should have been produced for them long ago.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they\u2019re delivered in time, it\u2019ll make probably a significant difference to the way that the counter-offensive is going at the moment, which is not very well.\u201d<\/p>\n The British veteran noted that Ukraine has been using Storm Shadow and SCALP weapons systems, \u201cbut there\u2019s not enough of them and the range of the ATACMS is far better and the munitions more powerful\u201d.<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n In a push for a fight back in Moscow\u2019s home turf, Col. Kemp also added: \u201cNot only ATACMS, but also other long range weapons like drones and also Storm Shadow and other supplied weapons, should be freed to be used against the Russians on their own territory. Currently, that\u2019s banned, because of fears of escalation.<\/p>\n \u201cMeanwhile the Russians are able to hit the Ukrainians wherever they like, anywhere they like, and Ukraine can\u2019t use Western weapons to hit Russian territory, which I think is a big mistake.<\/p>\n \u201cThey should be using them to hit military targets inside Russia, command posts, headquarters, weapons manufacturing sites, skylines, troops being moved forward, etc.<\/p>\n \u201cThat can be done with ATACMS, and it should be done.\u201d<\/p>\n Ukraine has pleaded with Washington to send it ATACMS for months, with Zelensky\u2019s visit proving critical for securing the weapons.<\/p>\n Defense officials told NBC that the US does not have a large stockpile of excess ATACMS, which have a bigger payload than traditional artillery.<\/p>\n But since the start of the war in February last year, the White House has sent Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, Howitzer artillery pieces, anti-ship missiles and HIMARS systems, after initially refusing to do so.<\/p>\n Russia has stayed silent on the matter so far today, but given Putin and Dmitry Leskov\u2019s nuclear warnings in the past, a fiery response is expected.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/78\/590x\/secondary\/ukraine-atacms-russia-biden-putin-bluff-2-4973710.jpg?r=1695407701387\")
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