The US has finally confirmed that they'll supply Ukraine with the M142 HIMARS. Unfortunately they're only starting with 4 of them, though I assume more will get sent later. And they're being provided only with the shorter range (70 km or so) rockets and on the condition that they not be used to target anything within Russia's borders.
The US seems to be pretty cognizant of wanting to avoid escalation. And I think it's a mistake to think that escalation only includes attacks on NATO countries or nuclear war. Even escalation to a wider mobilization of Russian forces could prove to be disastrous for Ukraine. Russia too, but I think the US would prefer a slower bleed out of Russian forces rather than escalation.
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