The United States will provide advanced rocket systems to Ukraine to use in defense against Russian forces but not for strikes inside Russia, a White House official said on Wednesday as Washington seeks to contain the escalation of the conflict.
US President Joe Biden has agreed to provide Ukraine with rocket systems that can strike with precision at long-range Russian targets as part of a $700 million weapons package expected to be unveiled on Wednesday.
Jonathan Finer, the deputy White House national security adviser, said the Ukrainians have been requesting the system and Washington believes it will meet their needs.
“We have asked Ukrainians for assurances that they will not use these systems to strike inside Russia. This is a defensive conflict that the Ukrainians are waging. Russian forces are on their territory,” Finer said in an interview with CNN.
There are significant targets Ukrainians cannot reach with the weapons they currently have, Finer said, and the rocket system…