Steve Holland, Jeff Mason

WASHINGTON (Reuters] – The White House stated Tuesday that the U.S. president Joe Biden, and his staff are still considering sending long-range rocket systems from the United States to Ukraine. However, they do not want to use them for attacking Russian territory.

According to U.S. officials, Biden is working with his national security staff on a new arsenal for Ukraine. A decision will be made soon.

Ukrainian officials are asking for help from allies to develop longer-range systems such as the Multiple Launch Rocket System or MLRS that can send rockets thousands of miles away. This is in an effort to turn the tide of the three-month-long conflict.

Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Press Secretary said that the system is being considered.

According to her, “But the president stated, we won’t send long-range rockets beyond use in Ukraine.” Biden has also stated that he does not wish them to be launched on Russian soil in order to prevent a wider Ukraine war.

Biden told reporters Tuesday that he would not send rocket systems to Ukraine that hit into Russia.

While he didn’t rule out any particular weapon system being provided, he appeared to place conditions on their use. Biden’s team is currently working to create a new military equipment package using money taken from a budget appropriation of $40 million approved by Congress.

According to a top administration official, the MLRS is being looked at, but it does not have long-range strike capabilities beyond combat use.

Biden is keen to assist Ukraine in its defense but opposes the supply of weapons Ukraine could use for attack Russia.

Many thousands of Ukrainians have been killed and more than a million displaced by the Russian invasion in February 24th, which Moscow describes as a “special military operations” meant to “denazify” Russia’s neighbor. The West and Ukraine call it a false pretext for war.

As its forces battle Russians more successfully than anticipated by intelligence officers, the West is becoming increasingly open to giving Ukraine long-range weapons, such as M777 howitzers.

However, U.S. intelligence also warns about increasing risks due to a mismatch in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions and his military performance.

Oleksiy Rynikov, Ukrainian Defense Minister, stated that Ukraine began receiving Harpoon anti ship missiles from Denmark as well as self-propelled howitzers made in the United States.