KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The United States and Britain pledged about $1.5 billion in additional aid to Ukraine on Wednesday as diplomats from the two countries visited Kiev, and Ukrainian officials renewed their calls for it to use Western-supplied missiles against targets deeper inside Russian territory.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced more than $700 million in humanitarian aid, and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed the U.K. would provide a further $782 million in aid and loan guarantees. Much of that effort will be Russia has repeatedly attacked power grids A harsh winter is expected.
Mr Blinken and Mr Lammy visited the Ukrainian capital together, on a rare joint tour that highlighted their commitment to the country. warAir raid sirens sounded several times during the visit, causing delays and forcing the wreath-laying ceremony to be cancelled.
Blinken said he would bring his discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over the missiles “back to Washington and report back to the president.” Blinken said U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer would “certainly” discuss the issue when they meet in Washington on Friday.
“Speaking for the United States, as the battlefield has changed, we have adjusted and adapted to changing needs, and I have no doubt we will continue to do so as the situation evolves,” Blinken said at a news conference.
The diplomatic visit comes as Russia’s larger and better equipped military forces prepare to launch attacks on Ukraine. Eastern Donetsk Oblast They bombed cities across the country using missiles, glide bombs and drones. Claims that many civilian casualties occurred.
Lamy is a Ukrainian Audacious Invasion It invaded Russia’s Kursk region last month.
“I express my deepest condolences for the shocking attacks we have seen, particularly the loss of civilian lives, including women and children. It is horrific, barbaric and unbelievable,” Lamy said.
However, Ukraine’s relations with the West are still in a state of flux in Kiev. Repeated complaints It has asked Western countries for permission for the United States and other allies to use long-range weapons to strike targets deeper inside Russian territory.
The issue has taken on added urgency following reports that Russia recently acquired ballistic missiles from Iran, but Western leaders have so far resisted Ukraine’s request, fearing that if approved it could escalate the conflict.
Biden has allowed Ukraine to fire U.S.-supplied missiles across the border into Russia in self-defense, but has significantly limited how far they can be fired.
President Zelenskiy said he hopes those restrictions will be changed.
“Let’s hope for at least some strong decisions,” he said. “For us, that’s very important.”
He noted that U.S. military and financial support is crucial and said he hopes to discuss it with Biden later this month.
“We depend a lot on it and, frankly, we cannot win without it,” Zelensky said.
But US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin last week dismissed the idea that long-range strikes would be a game changer.
“We don’t believe any one capability is decisive, and that view remains the case,” Austin said at a meeting with allied military leaders in Germany, adding that Ukraine has other means to strike long-range targets.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhali told Lamy he hoped an agreement could be reached on using long-range weapons for “attacks on enemy territory,” adding: “I count on your support and cooperation in this matter.”
Ukraine is facing a harsh winter. The country’s power grid Under severe stress This comes after Russian missiles and drones destroyed about 70 percent of the country’s power generating capacity.
The Kiev authorities will also have to deal with the outcome of the US presidential election in November, which could lead to significant policy shifts in Washington. Former President Donald Trump Presidential Debate On Tuesday, he said he wanted to end the war. I didn’t say it clearly He wants Ukraine to win.
“We remain committed to a victory for Ukraine,” Blinken said. “The bottom line is, we want Ukraine to win.”
Ukrainian officials politely declined to comment on the debate: Zelenskiy said he had not watched it, while Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibikha argued that an ultimate change in U.S. policy was unlikely.
“Certainly, we will have a new president, but we believe and we are confident in the strong support of the American people,” Sibiha said. “We are firmly confident that this support will continue.”
The latest U.S. aid package includes $325 million in energy assistance to help repair and restore Ukraine’s power generating facilities, provide emergency backup power to critical services, and strengthen the physical security of its energy infrastructure.
About $290 million will go to food, water, shelter, health care and education programs for needy Ukrainians at home and refugees abroad, while the remaining $102 million will go to mine clearance efforts.
Last weekend, the United States Sending another $250 million worth of weapons to UkraineThis includes air defense missiles and artillery.
Wednesday’s visit was unusually announced in advance and marked a public show of support for Ukraine from the United States and Britain.
British diplomats arrived in the Ukrainian capital by train from Poland. Mr Blinken departed from London. Iran accuses Russia of funding it With Fath-360 Short-range ballistic missiles, He called the move a “dramatic escalation” of the war.
Regarding the missiles, Shmykhal added: “Russia’s attack on Ukraine using the weapons of its terrorist allies is the continuation of a genocidal war and terrorist acts on our territory. We must be able to counter such terrorist acts by destroying military targets on our territory to better ensure the safety of our people.”
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Associated Press writer Jill Lawless in London and reporter Derek Gatopoulos in Kyiv contributed to this report.
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See AP’s coverage of the Ukraine war below: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
