Ukrainian PM Appeals Directly to Lloyd Austin for Long-Range Missiles, Jets

Denys Shmyhal met with Austin in DC on Wednesday

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal directly asked Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to provide Ukraine with longer-range missiles and fighter jets during a meeting in Washington on Wednesday.

“We will win this war,” Shmyhal said, according to The Hill. “But to achieve it faster and with fewer casualties, Ukraine still needs intensive military support — more air defense systems that minimize the impact of Russian airstrikes, more heavy artillery, mortars and ammunition for them.”

A leaked document from the Pentagon has revealed that the US believes Kyiv will soon run out of missiles for its Soviet-era air defense systems, which Ukraine’s armed forces are still mainly reliant on despite the Western systems they’ve provided.

“We also ask you for reconsider the possibility of providing Ukraine with longer-range missiles,” Shmyhal told Austin. Another leak suggested Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would use longer-range US weapons to strike Russian territory, which would risk a major escalation of the war.

Shmyhal said Kyiv was looking for a coalition of NATO countries to provide Western-made aircraft. “Ukraine is initiating the building of a new, so-called fighter jet coalition. And we are inviting the United States to become its most important participant. America can once again demonstrate its leadership by providing Ukraine with F-15 or F-16 aircraft,” he said.

Austin didn’t comment on Shmyhal’s requests but vowed continued support for Ukraine. The US is already laying the groundwork to provide Kyiv with F-16s by hosting Ukrainian pilots to assess their skill levels and see how long it takes to train them on American planes.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.