KYIV: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that Ukraine can decide for itself whether to strike Russian territory with US weapons but Washington has not encouraged such attacks. “We have not encouraged or enabled strikes outside of Ukraine, but ultimately Ukraine has to make decisions for itself about how it is going to conduct this war,” Blinken said.
During a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv, Blinken announced a further $2 billion in military aid for Ukrainian forces. This announcement comes as Ukraine grapples with Russian onslaughts across the front line.
The aid package, part of a larger $61 billion package approved by Washington several weeks ago following months of delays in Congress, aims to bolster Ukrainian defenses and support its efforts to fend off Russian aggression. Blinken emphasized that the aid was intended not only to provide immediate weapons but also to invest in Ukrainian infrastructure and facilitate the purchase of military equipment from other countries.
.@SecBlinken holds a joint press availability with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba in Kyiv. https://t.co/nu7kpNpmn7 https://t.co/rgoBSkdKOH
— Department of State (@StateDept) May 15, 2024
Blinken reiterated Washington’s commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He stated that while the US has not encouraged or facilitated strikes outside of Ukraine, ultimately, Ukraine must decide for itself how to conduct its defense operations.
Kuleba, echoing the urgent need for enhanced defense capabilities, highlighted Ukraine’s requirement for seven additional air defense systems, particularly in the northeastern region of Kharkiv, which recently came under Russian attack. He also emphasized the need for expedited deliveries of promised weapons from allied countries to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
The announcement of increased military aid comes amidst reports of escalating violence, with a Russian aerial strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro resulting in at least two fatalities and several injuries, according to regional governor Sergiy Lysak.
