Russian soldiers pushed closer to the center of an industrial city on Wednesday in an attempt to seize a swath of eastern Ukraine, as the US announced it would provide sophisticated missiles to Kyiv to try compel Moscow to negotiate an end to the war.
According to Ukraine’s General Staff, Russian soldiers are hitting infrastructure in eastern and southern areas, notably the symbolically significant city of Sievierodonetsk, which they entered on May 27. For several weeks, it has been the primary focus of their ground attack.
US President Joe Biden confirmed the delivery of precision rocket launchers and ammunition capable of striking long-range Russian targets as part of a $700 million weapons package to be disclosed on Wednesday.
According to a senior Biden administration official, the new supplies, which are in addition to billions of dollars in equipment such as drones and anti-aircraft missiles, include the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), which Kyiv has said is “critical” to counter Russian missile attacks. Concerned that weapons like HIMARS may lead to direct confrontation, Jonathan Finer, deputy White House national security advisor, said the US has pressed Ukraine for guarantees that the missiles would not target within Russia.
Russia, on the other hand, has warned of an increased potential of direct confrontation with the US.