U.S. Greenlights $825 Million Cruise Missile Package to Boost Ukraines Defense Capabilities

Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands are set to potentially acquire over 3,000 cruise missiles for Ukraine in an $825 million deal that has received approval from the U.S. State Department, the Pentagon announced on Thursday.

These missiles, known as Extended Range Attack Munitions (ERAM), have a range between 150 and 280 miles and are expected to be delivered to Ukraine “in around six weeks,” according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency stated that “this proposed sale will enhance Ukraine’s capability to address both current and future threats, further enabling it to carry out self-defense and regional security operations.”

Additionally, the agency noted that this initiative “will support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by bolstering the security of a partner nation that promotes political stability and economic development in Europe,” although it did not provide a specific timeline for the missile delivery.

It was mentioned that Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands will finance this purchase.

Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Pentagon prohibited Ukraine from utilizing U.S.-supplied ATACMS long-range missiles to target sites within Russia since late spring, reversing a prior approval from former President Joe Biden last fall.

This decision was part of the Trump administration’s strategy to encourage Moscow to pursue peace negotiations with Kyiv, which have since stalled as Russia refuses to agree to a ceasefire.

Trump, who has previously criticized Biden for “escalating” the war by permitting strikes across the border into Russia, pledged last month to supply Ukraine with additional weapons if European nations would agree to finance the effort.

In the meantime, reports indicate that the Pentagon has appointed Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby to oversee a “review mechanism” regarding Ukraine’s requests to launch long-range strikes on targets inside Russia, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Trump expressed on his Truth Social platform last week that it would be “very hard, if not impossible, for Ukraine to win a war without attacking” Russia.

Reporting contributed by AFP.