NATO will need more long-range missiles to deter Russia, US general says

As Russia intensifies its assault on Ukraine, NATO and European countries need to increase production of long-range weapons, U.S. Maj. Gen. John Rafferty told Reuters.

"The Russian army is bigger today than it was when they started the war in Ukraine," said Rafferty, who was interviewed in Germany.

Long-range missiles can reach deep inside enemy territory. Russia has very effectively used these weapons in the war against Ukraine, striking critical infrastructure. 

The Kremlin has escalated its attacks in Ukraine in the past month. 

Negotiations for a peace deal seem bleak. President Trump has ramped up his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin over his attacks in Ukraine, a reversal compared to the early days of his presidency. To counter Russia's offensive, Trump struck a deal Friday with NATO to send Patriot batteries, part of an anti-missile defense system, to Ukraine. 

Out of 32 NATO members, only a fraction have long-range missiles, and many depend on the U.S. for their procurement.

On Thursday, the U.S. agreed to send long-range missiles to Germany in 2026, in a clear warning to Russia. 

Since 2024, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, the U.K. and Sweden have been participating in the European Long-Range Strike Approach to try to build new long-range strike capabilities within their respective armies, Reuters reported.

Europe has made several moves in recent months to increase defense spending and weapons production. The European Union signed a $162 billion deal to invest in the union’s rearmament. At last month's NATO summit, all 32 alliance members committed to investing 5 percent of their gross domestic product on NATO spending by 2035, a big win for the Trump administration.  

"And we know that they're [Russia] going to continue to invest in long-range rockets and missiles and sophisticated air defenses. So more alliance capability is really, really important," Rafferty said.