President Joe Biden has announced that the United States will send modern, long-range rockets to Ukraine to defend itself.
Ukraine has long demanded that it be given a weapon capable of hitting Russian forces remotely.
The United States has not yet accepted Ukraine's offer, citing fears that the weapon could target objects in Russia.
However, President Biden said on Wednesday that the support for the weapons would strengthen Kiev's ability to negotiate with Russia and resolve the conflict diplomatically.
"That is why Ukraine has decided to provide this sophisticated rocket and missile system to hit key targets in the war zone," he wrote in the New York Times.
A senior White House official said the new weapons support included a long-range rocket system, but did not provide figures.
This rocket system can strike at a target of up to 70 miles [70 km], much better than Ukraine currently has.
It is also believed that rockets hit Russia more effectively than rockets.
Last month, the commander of the Ukrainian army said that the acquisition of the rocket system was crucial to the prevention of Russian missile strikes.
The United States expects Ukraine to deploy its weapons in the eastern Donbass region, where the war intensified and Russian weapons are being used to target Ukrainian cities.
White House officials agreed to deliver the rocket to Ukraine after receiving a confirmation from President Volodymyr Zelensky that the weapon would not be used to strike targets in Russia.
"We will not send a rocket to Russia to hit Ukraine," Biden wrote in a statement on Wednesday.
White House officials say US rocket fire to Ukraine is part of a $ 700 million package announced on Wednesday.
Helicopters, anti-tank weapons, strategic vehicles and spare parts will also be included in the 11th US military package to Ukraine since the start of the war in February.
On Wednesday, Biden said the United States' main goal was to see a "democratic, independent, sovereign" Ukraine, not to oust President Putin or to create a border conflict with Moscow.
"Russia does not accept the peace process," he said, adding that the United States would not pressure Ukraine to reconsider its position in order to end the conflict.
President Biden discusses the dangers of nuclear weapons being used in Ukraine. "We have not seen any indication that this is a Russian interest; But using it is unacceptable and has serious consequences. ”
Following the publication of Biden's article in the New York Times, Russian military officials are conducting a nuclear test in the Ivanovo region near Moscow, Interfax news agency reported.
Meanwhile, fighting broke out in Ukraine's eastern Donbass region.
On Tuesday, the governor of Luhansk announced that the eastern city of Severodonsk, one of the provinces, was largely under Moscow control.
Russian forces have largely occupied Luhansk and are reportedly seeking to seize neighboring Donetsk.
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