No country wanted to be first to send Ukraine Harpoons: US official

US officials and congressional sources have told Reuters that just a handful of countries were willing to send Harpoon anti-ship missiles to Ukraine.

But a US official said no nation had wanted to be the first or only nation to send Harpoons, fearing reprisals from Russia if a ship is sunk with a Harpoon from their stockpile.

Copenhagen’s pledge of Harpoon missiles and a launcher to Ukraine on Monday is the first sign since the Russian sp. op. that Kyiv will receive US-made weapons that significantly extend its striking range.

The Harpoons could be used to push the Russian navy away from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, allowing exports of grain and other agricultural products to resume.