Russia’s war in Ukraine is likely “to continue for some time” and now is the time to increase military aid, the US Secretary of State said.
Antony Blinken said “fierce” fighting continues along Ukraine’s eastern front, but Western partners are determined to “make sure the Ukrainians have what they need to win back what they’ve lost and deal with Russian aggression.” .
Appearing at a press conference in Washington DC alongside James Cleverly, the UK’s foreign secretary, Blinken also warned that Russia will continue to “use energy to try to punish countries that support Ukraine.”
“I anticipate that, unfortunately, this will continue for some time,” Blinken said.
“But we are determined together … to make sure the Ukrainians have what they need to win back what they have lost and stand up to Russian aggression. That hasn’t changed.”
Cleverly traveled to Washington for talks about the war and spoke with Blinken in an attempt to encourage Western leaders to increase their support.
Pointing to the UK shipment of 14 tanks to Ukraine, Cleverly said it is important to provide the “right equipment at the right time” so that Kyiv can engage in the type of combat needed.
Blinken welcomed the UK’s decision to supply Ukraine with the British Army’s Challenger 2 main battle tanks.
James Cleverly with Antony Blinken during a press conference in Washington on Tuesday. Photo: AP
The US Secretary of State indicated that the US would make announcements in the coming days, and that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will host talks with key allies in Ramstein, Germany, later this week.
“We have continuously delivered what Ukraine needs and we are doing it in a way that ensures we are responding to what is actually happening on the battlefield as well as projecting where it might go,” he said.
“We are determined to make sure Ukraine has what it needs to succeed on the battlefield.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ordered some 300 modern Western main battle tanks to enable his forces to take the offensive against Russia’s aggressor.
In practice, this is likely to mean American Abrams and German Leopard 2 tanks, or a combination of both, which are potentially available in much larger numbers than the Challenger 2.
Cleverly, who is in Washington to urge Americans to go “further and faster” in their support for Ukraine, praised the US efforts to date, noting that it was the largest single provider of assistance, both military and economically, to Ukraine.
He said the United States and the United Kingdom have worked “hand in hand,” along with other allies, since the start of the conflict to ensure Ukraine has the support it needs.
“Never in living memory has Russia been more isolated and the Atlantic alliance more united,” he said.
“If Putin believed that the world would succumb to Ukraine fatigue and lose the will to resist his ambitions, then that was yet another colossal mistake on his part.”
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Mr Blinken also reaffirmed the US administration’s call for a negotiated settlement of the UK-EU dispute over the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Following talks with Cleverly, Blinken said he had underscored President Joe Biden’s unequivocal support for the Belfast/Good Friday Deal.
“The United States believes that there must be a negotiated agreement for the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol that is acceptable to all parties,” he said. “We are encouraged that in recent days the UK and the European Union have made substantial progress towards a negotiated solution.”
Meanwhile, China said it welcomes Blinken’s visit to the country amid reports that he will travel there in early February.
