U.S. Should Send More HIMARS To 'Help Speed The End' Of Putin's War: McFaul

Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul has called on the U.S. to supply Ukraine with more weapons in order to quickly end the conflict with Russia.

McFaul shared a report by the U.S. Department of Defense that highlighted the success Ukraine has been having with the U.S.-provided HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems).

"Great News! So why not provide more? Help speed the end to Putin's barbaric invasion," McFaul wrote as a caption as he shared the report.

The M142 HIMARS system allows for the launching of multiple, precision-guided rockets. Already, the U.S. had provided eight of the systems to Ukraine and last week promised to send an additional four, for a total of 12 of the systems.

A senior military official spoke at a Pentagon briefing on Friday and gave an indication the use of HIMARS was impacting Russia's ability to fight on the frontlines in Ukraine.

"I think there has been significant impact on what's going on, on the front lines," the official said.

"If you think about the fact that the Ukrainians have been talking about a number of the targets [they] are hitting... they're spending a lot of time striking targets like ammunition, supplies, other logistical supplies, command and control.

"And all those things have a direct impact on the ability to conduct operations on the front line.

"Although they're not shooting the HIMARS, at the front lines, they hare having a very, very significant effect on that."

Military analyst Michael Kofman told the War on the Rocks podcast that while the HIMARS add to the capability of Ukraine's forces in targeting Russian logistics sites, he expected Moscow's forces would "begin to adapt and change the way they operate to make them less effective."

He added that their effectiveness will also be limited by how much ammunition it can get for the systems. "No matter how many batteries Ukraine receives of HIMARS," he said, "the issue of ammo production...will be, I think, an enduring choke point."

On July 12, McFaul issued a similar statement calling for the U.S. to support Ukraine with more weapons.

"The faster we send more long-range artillery and multiple rocket launches to Ukraine, the faster this horrible, barbaric Russian invasion of Ukraine will end."

McFaul has remained outspoken of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and warned of the wider danger it posses to the world.

"Ukrainians are still fighting and dying for their sovereignty and democracy against an enemy that threatens not only Ukraine but European security as well," he wrote on Twitter on July 14.

"Please don't forget about them. #StandWithUkraine."

On June 30, while at the NATO summit, President Joe Biden said the United States would provide another $800 million in weapons and military aid to Ukraine, according to a Reuters report.

Biden added that the U.S. and its NATO allies were committed in standing up to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I don't know how it's going to end, but it will not end with Russia defeating Ukraine. Ukraine has already dealt a severe blow to Russia," Biden said told a news conference.

Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry for comment.