KYIV: The United States and British top diplomats on Wednesday vowed to work together for Ukraine’s victory as they discussed further relaxing rules on firing long-range Western weapons into Russia, whose alleged acquisition of Iranian missiles has raised new fears.
In a rare joint visit, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy arrived in Kyiv. Their visit signals a unified stance on aiding Ukraine as it continues to defend against Russian aggression.
David Lammy, whose two-month-old Labour government has vowed to keep up Britain’s role as a key defender of Ukraine.
In talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, both diplomats reaffirmed their nations’ commitment to Ukraine’s victory. “We are committed to Ukraine’s success, committed to Ukraine’s victory,” Blinken stated during a press conference.
Lammy pledged British support until the conflict, which he characterized as “Russian imperialism and aggression,” comes to an end. He denounced the attacks on Ukrainians as “horrific, barbaric, unbelievable,” and emphasized the importance of allied unity in the face of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s strategies.
The visit comes as Ukraine is facing renewed pressure on multiple fronts. Russia has intensified its advances on the crucial logistics hub of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region. This escalation follows Ukraine’s unexpected counter-offensive into Russia’s Kursk region, which occurred just a month prior.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has increasingly called for Western allies to supply more powerful weapons with fewer restrictions. US President Joe Biden is currently reviewing whether to permit longer-range strikes by Ukrainian forces on Russian targets. Biden has expressed strong support for Ukraine but aims to avoid direct conflict between the US and Russia, two major nuclear powers.
Blinken, who was in London with Lammy prior to the Kyiv visit, reiterated the US’s commitment to providing Ukraine with “what they need when they need it to be most effective in dealing with Russian aggression.”
Reports indicate that Russia could begin deploying short-range Iranian missiles into Ukraine within weeks. This development has exacerbated fears that Moscow might intensify its use of long-range missiles against less-defended areas in western Ukraine. The US and its allies have already imposed new sanctions on Iran in response to these sales.
The diplomatic visit also highlighted ongoing debates about the type and range of weaponry provided to Ukraine. British media reports suggest that President Biden is considering lifting restrictions on the use of Storm Shadow missiles, which are capable of striking long-range targets.
Meanwhile, there is increasing pressure from US Congress members, including leading Republicans, to expedite the provision of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which can reach targets up to 300 kilometers away.
