US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is concluding a three-nation European tour in Poland, with a primary focus on Ukraine. During his visit to Kyiv, Blinken, along with British Foreign Secretary, pledged to convey Ukrainian requests for Western-supplied weaponry to their respective leaders.
President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are set to meet in the US, indicating a growing willingness from Washington and London to consider allowing Ukrainians to use arms for strikes deeper into Russia.
Poland, a NATO member sharing a border with Ukraine, has been supportive of Ukrainian efforts. Blinken is expected to discuss further requests to ease weapons-use restrictions with Polish leaders.
During the visit to Kyiv, the US and Britain pledged nearly $1.5 billion in additional aid to Ukraine, focusing on humanitarian assistance and bolstering the energy grid ahead of a challenging winter.
Ukrainian officials emphasized the importance of easing restrictions on where Western weapons can be used, with air-raid sirens causing disruptions during the diplomatic visit.
Blinken stated that he would brief President Biden on the discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding missile use. The issue of expanding the range of Western weapons use is expected to be a topic of discussion during the upcoming Biden-Starmer meeting.
As Russia intensifies its military actions in eastern Ukraine, concerns have grown over the need for expanded Western support. However, Western leaders have been cautious about granting Ukraine's requests, fearing an escalation of the conflict.
While the US has allowed Ukraine to use US-provided missiles for self-defense, restrictions on the distance of their use remain in place. Zelenskyy expressed hope for changes to these limitations, emphasizing the importance of strong decisions for Ukraine.
