WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, as well as U.S. Representative Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today reacted to President Emmanuel Macron's announcement that France will provide SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine:
“Yesterday’s announcement that France will provide Ukraine with SCALP-EG missiles should prompt the Biden Administration to transfer ATACMS without delay," the lawmakers said. “The recent U.S. transfer of cluster munitions to Ukraine and Britain’s ongoing provision of deep-strike Storm Shadows demonstrate that fears of escalation remain unfounded and that Ukraine continues to use advanced arms capably and effectively. Indeed, Ukraine's Defense Minister has stated that Storm Shadows have hit 100 percent of their targets. It is time for the Biden Administration to stop leading from behind."
Macron's decision follows the transfer of Storm Shadow missiles from Britain in May, which have proven effective in providing Ukraine with a deep-strike capability.