Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken suggested on Wednesday that the Biden administration might be willing to tolerate strikes by Ukrainian forces inside Russia, saying the United States would “adjust and adapt” its position as conditions on the battlefield evolve.
Blinken said the United States had neither encouraged nor enabled such attacks. But he said Ukrainians needed to decide for themselves how best to defend themselves — a position he has expressed before — and that the U.S. government had “adjusted and adapted as necessary” as the war evolved.
When asked if that meant the United States could support Ukraine in launching attacks inside Russia, he said: “That’s what I mean by adaptation and adjustment.”
Washington has been providing military assistance to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but has repeatedly asked them not to launch US-made weapons into Russian territory for fear of an escalation of the war.
Several European leaders called on President Biden Stop imposing these restrictionsThey include NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Blinken made the remarks in the Moldovan capital of Chisinau as he stood beside Moldovan President Maia Sandu, who is expected to face a pro-Russian candidate in her re-election bid in October. The two spoke to reporters after an afternoon meeting in the president’s office.
“Our neighbours, our friends in Ukraine, are paying a terrible price every day,” Ms Sandu said.
Blinken announced new aid to Moldova to address a range of issues caused by Russian aggression, including its invasion of Ukraine.
The first of the two packages mentioned Provided $50 million in broad support for Moldova’s industry and government, and for democratic processes. Mr. Blinken mentioned the energy and agricultural sectors, as well as the need to combat disinformation.
“Our unwavering commitment to democracy in the face of Russian bullying is profound and deep-seated,” Blinken said.
Ms. Sandu thanked Mr. Blinken for his help in fighting corruption, building renewable energy infrastructure and addressing “democratic adversity,” a nod to Russian election interference.
The second aid package mentioned is worth $85 million to help Moldova improve its energy resilience and reduce Dependence on electricity Moldova gets its electricity from the Russian-backed separatist region of Transnistria in the east. Blinken said the support would help Moldova strengthen its energy needs, including battery storage capacity and high-voltage transmission lines.
Moldova recently ended its reliance on Russian gas imports and now buys gas from a number of countries, including the United States.
Blinken’s visit to Chisinau is the first stop on a tour aimed at demonstrating U.S. support for countries facing Russian hostility. Blinken’s next stop is the Czech Republic, where he is scheduled to attend a meeting of NATO foreign ministers and senior officials on Thursday and Friday. They plan to discuss how best to support Ukraine.
This visit follows Mr. Blinken’s Overnight tour in Kyiv More than two weeks ago.
Ms Sandu has advocated for Moldova to join the European Union and plans to hold a referendum on the issue on the same day as the presidential election in October.
American and European analysts say Moscow is likely to try to interfere in the U.S. election, as it has done elsewhere in Europe. The Biden administration has publicly said Russian operatives use a variety of means to carry out such interference, from hacking to orchestrating campaign activities on social networks. Distribute money A favored politician.
About 1,500 Russian troops are stationed in the Transnistria region bordering Ukraine. U.S. officials are watching closely for any signs that Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to annex the region.
The official purpose of the NATO meeting in the Czech Republic is to finalize the agenda for the 80th anniversary meeting of NATO leaders in July in Washington. The group is not expected to announce that Ukraine will now join NATO, a desire Zelensky reiterated after the Russian invasion. However, they are expected to work out the details of the process to advance Ukraine’s NATO membership.
As Russian troops advance toward Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, Ukraine’s war effort is waning, largely because of shortages of weapons and ammunition and a shrinking civilian population.
Biden signed a bill passed by Congress to provide new military aid to Ukraine despite opposition from some Republicans.
Russia is producing arms at a rapid pace, and U.S.-led sanctions have failed to weaken its military industrial capacity. Biden and his aides say China has played a decisive role in supporting Russia by exporting dual-use equipment and other goods that have enabled Russia to step up its weapons production. Blinken is expected to highlight China’s support for Russia in discussions at the NATO meeting in Prague.
