Russia’s nuclear forces carry out drills as US steps up arms supplies to Ukraine

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Russia's nuclear forces are holding drills in the Ivanovo province, northeast of Moscow, the Interfax news agency cited the Russian defence ministry as saying on Wednesday.</p>
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Some 1,000 servicemen are exercising in intense manoeuvres using over 100 vehicles including Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launchers, according to the report. saying.</p>
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The development comes at a time when US President Joe Biden has agreed to provide Ukraine with advanced rocket systems that can strike with precision at long-range Russian targets as part of a $700 million weapons package.</p>
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In a New York Times op-ed published Tuesday, President Biden said Russia's invasion of Ukraine will end through diplomacy but the United States must provide significant weapons and ammunition to give Ukraine the highest leverage at the negotiating table.</p>
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"That's why I've decided that we will provide the Ukrainians with more advanced rocket systems and munitions that will enable them to more precisely strike key targets on the battlefield in Ukraine," Biden wrote.</p>
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The package also includes ammunition, counter- fire radars, a number of air surveillance radars, additional Javelin anti-tank missiles, as well as anti-armour weapons, according to US media reports.</p>
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Ukrain has been asking allies for longer-range missile systems that can fire a barrage of rockets to hit back at the advancing Russian troops.</p>
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Biden told journalists  that the US would not give Ukraine rocket systems that can strike targets in Russia.</p>
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He did not rule out providing any specific weapons system, but instead appeared to be placing conditions on how they could be used.</p>
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