US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has denied Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's request to give Ukraine priority in receiving ATACMS missile systems, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources in the US government and an adviser from the Ukrainian president's office. According to the publication, during the negotiations, Austin made it clear that the Ukrainian leader's request was "too big" and could not be fulfilled without a bypass.

Ukraine is pushing for faster deliveries of long-range missile systems like ATACMS to bolster its forces, but the Pentagon stresses that Washington must consider the risks of the conflict escalating to a global level.

ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) is an American tactical ballistic missile of the surface-to-surface class, developed by Lockheed Martin. It is designed for high-precision strikes on strategic targets, such as command posts, ammunition depots and enemy equipment, at ranges of up to 300 km. ATACMS is launched from mobile launchers, such as HIMARS and MLRS, and is characterized by high accuracy and a powerful warhead. This system provides a significant tactical advantage, allowing strikes at long distances and effectively destroying key objects on the battlefield.