The top US military commander in Europe said that long-range cruise missiles were among the weapons systems that are crucial to send to Ukraine. 

CNN obtained an annex from a classified report compiled by Commander of European Command, Gen. Chris Cavoli, that lists weapons platforms that Kiev does not currently have that could benefit Ukraine. The list includes Lockheed Martin’s Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), a cruise missile fired from F-16s with a range of 230 miles and a 1,000-pound warhead. 

Additionally on the list is Link 16, a data-sharing network used by the US and NATO. While Cavoli did not explain in his report when Ukraine has not received the weapons, sources told CNN that Link 16 is being withheld over concerns the technology could fall into Russian hands. 

Officials told the outlet that the White House has not signed off on JASSM transfers because it assesses that the missiles will not be useful to Ukraine until Kiev has air superiority. Currently, F-16s that the West has transferred to Ukraine are limited to operations far from the front lines. Kiev has requested that Washington transfer the JASSMs to Ukraine. 

Sending long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine risks further escalating the proxy war between Russia and NATO. Top Russian officials have threatened to respond if Ukraine begins conducting attacks inside Russia with long-range missiles, and President Vladimir Putin has altered the Kremlin’s nuclear doctrine to allow for the use of strategic weapons in response to such an attack.  

However, the risk of Moscow using a nuclear weapon may not deter the Biden administration from crossing Russian redlines. According to Bob Woodward, in 2022, the White House believed there was a 50% chance Russia could use nuclear weapons in Ukraine but continued to escalate support for Kiev.