US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Minister David Lammy arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday to engage in pivotal talks with senior Ukrainian officials as the war against Russia reaches a critical phase.
During his visit, Blinken expressed a desire to understand Ukraine’s objectives in the ongoing conflict and determine how Washington can support them. “It’s a critical moment for Ukraine in the midst of an intense fall fighting season, with Russia continuing to escalate its aggression,” Blinken stated at a joint press conference with Lammy in London prior to their arrival in Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been urging Western allies to supply longer-range missiles and lift restrictions on their use, allowing Ukraine to target key military sites deep within Russian territory. While US officials have been cautious about this, fearing it could lead to direct conflict between the West and Russia, President Joe Biden hinted at a possible compromise, stating that his administration is “working that out now.”
Meanwhile, Russia has warned that it would consider the US and its allies as direct participants in the war if they permit Ukraine to use long-range weapons against Russian targets. Despite this, Blinken emphasized that the decision involves more than just the weapons themselves, noting the importance of Ukrainian forces being able to effectively use and maintain the systems.
On the ground, Ukrainian forces are facing intense pressure as they defend against Russian advances, particularly in the eastern regions where Moscow is concentrating its efforts. In a bold move to shift the momentum, Kyiv launched a cross-border incursion into Russia’s Kursk region last month, aiming to disrupt Russian operations.
Blinken’s visit follows his recent warning that Russia has acquired ballistic missiles from Iran, with plans to deploy them in Ukraine within weeks. He described the growing military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran as a threat to European security, leading the US to impose new sanctions on Iran in response.
The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians, the displacement of millions, and widespread destruction across the country. As Russian drone and missile attacks intensify, Ukraine has also been launching its own long-range drone strikes deep into Russian territory.
Later this month, President Zelenskyy is expected to visit the United States, where he will present a plan to Biden and his potential successors aimed at bringing the war closer to an end.
