WASHINGTON. Oct 9 (Interfax) - United States European Command Commander Chris Cavoli has drawn up a list of U.S. weapon systems that could make Ukrainian forces more effective and have not been provided by U.S. President Joe Biden's administration, CNN said, citing its sources.
The list includes an air-launched air-to-surface cruise missile and the Link 16 communication system operated by the U.S. and NATO for stable connection between combat systems, which is particularly effective against air and ground targets, CNN said.
According to CNN, Ukraine has repeatedly asked for both systems but "U.S. officials have previously expressed concerns about sensitive U.S. technology falling into Russian hands." The sources also believe that "the air-to-surface missiles, which are fired from fighter jets, might not be useful to the Ukrainians unless they achieve some level of air superiority."
While meeting with Biden in late September, Zelensky presented a list of targets he planned to strike on the Russian territory with long-range missiles. The "list not of weapons, but of targets" is the key element of Zelensky's "victory plan," CNN said.
Biden neither agreed nor declined Kiev's request for using U.S. long-range missiles to strike targets in Russia. The sides agreed to continue discussing the issue at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Ramstein, Germany. "But Biden won't be meeting with Zelensky again in the near future after he canceled a trip to Germany [...] this week," and "it remains unlikely that the U.S. will change its policy on long-range missiles," officials told CNN.
"U.S. officials say they are giving Ukraine everything that the U.S. military assesses Kiev needs at this moment to support its fight," CNN said in conclusion.