If US Delivers Long-Range Missiles to Ukraine, Russia Might Hit Earlier Unaffected Targets - Putin

On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden announced a new Ukraine military assistance package, which includes High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that if the US delivers long-range missiles to Ukraine, Russia might hit earlier unaffected targets.

"Missiles are needed then, yes. But if they continue to be supplied, we will draw the appropriate conclusions from this and use those means of destruction we have, and of which we have plenty, to strike at those objects that we have not yet struck," Putin said.

Putin added that sending additional arms supplies to Kiev has only one goal behind it - to prolong the armed conflict as long as possible.

The delivery of multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) to Ukraine from the US is connected with replacing Ukrainian military equipment that has been lost. But this changes nothing: Kiev's requests for artillery to be supplied are most likely down to the fact that Ukraine wants to restore what was destroyed during the fighting, Vladimir Putin said.

"We presume that this supply from the United States and some other countries is connected with the compensation of losses of this military equipment, there is nothing new here and it does not change anything in essence. And there are also applications for the supply of artillery ... it is also about restoring what was lost or destroyed during the hostilities," Putin said in an interview with the Russian Channel One broadcaster.

The president noted that in the beginning of Russia's special operation, the Ukrainian army had about 515 Multiple rocket launchers, 380 of which were destroyed, but some were restored or taken from stock and currently Kiev has about 360 units of such equipment.

Putin also added that Ukrainian reconnaissance drones that have been flying there since the beginning of the special operation are all foreign-made.

On 1 June, US President Joe Biden announced a new Ukraine military assistance package, which includes High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Ukraine has given him assurances the weapon system will not be used to fire at targets on Russian territory.

In turn, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia has no confidence in Ukraine’s promises not to fire the long-range weapons on Russian territory.

The Biden administration has already provided Ukraine with 1,400 Stinger missiles along with 5,500 Javelin missiles since Russia's special military operation began on February 24. However, this is far short of what Ukraine has claimed it needs. In March, Kiev requested 500 Javelins and 500 Stingers per day, although US officials said the Defence Department believes Ukraine is inflating its requirements.

On 27 May, the Defence Department said the US government awarded Raytheon a more than $624.6 million order for Stinger air-defence systems, with an estimated completion date of 30 June 2026.

Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on 24 February in response to calls by the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics for protection from Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defence Ministry said the goal of the operation, which targets Ukrainian military infrastructure, is to "demilitarize and denazify" Ukraine, and to completely liberate Donbas.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the operation aims to "protect people subjected to genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years." As of 25 March, the Russian Armed Forces completed the main tasks of the first stage, significantly reducing the combat potential of Ukraine. The United States and its allies have rolled out a comprehensive sanctions campaign against Moscow.