According to insiders, the US wants to provide Ukraine with advanced anti-ship missiles so that it can break the Russian blockade of its Black Sea ports. Two types of missiles are currently under discussion, the Reuters news agency learned from three US government officials and two congressional staff members who declined to be named.
These are the Boeing-made “Harpoon” with a range of up to 300 kilometers and the “Naval Strike Missile” (NSM) from Kongsberg and Raytheon Technologies with 250 kilometers. According to naval expert Bryan Clark of the Hudson Institute, 12 to 24 such missiles would be enough to threaten Russian warships and persuade the Moscow government to end the blockade. This has consequences, for example, for Ukrainian grain deliveries to the world market.
Moscow has already suffered heavy losses
According to the British Ministry of Defense, Russia has deployed about 20 warships – including submarines – in the battle zone. The Russian Navy has already suffered significant losses in the war in Ukraine, most notably the sinking of the cruiser Moskva (pictured below), the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet.
According to Clark, the larger Russian ships could be endangered if Ukraine were given advanced weapons and President Vladimir Putin still adhered to the blockade: “There is nowhere to hide in the Black Sea.”
Zelenskyy asked for delivery in April
In March, during the NATO summit in Brussels, it became known from American circles that the supply of anti-ship missiles to Ukraine was being discussed. They had “get started,” it said at the time. In April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked NATO member Portugal for a shipment of harpoons. The German Bundeswehr also has the weapons system.
Fear of reaction can delay deliveries
According to insiders, there are now a number of states that would in principle be willing to send such missiles to Ukraine. However, no one wants to be the first to do so for fear of the Russian reaction if a warship is sunk by a missile from that country. One of the government officials told Reuters there is now a “well-equipped” country that may be ready to deliver first. Other states could then follow.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
