US and UK Continue to Support Ukraine, But No Groundbreaking Decision to Attack Russia

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy visited Kiev at a critical moment in the Russia-Ukraine war, discussing Ukraine’s war aims and ways the two countries could support Ukraine.

“We discussed long-range fires and a number of other issues,” Blinken said. “And as I said before, I will convey those discussions to Washington.”

For months, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been urging Kiev’s allies to allow Ukraine to use Western-supplied missiles, such as the long-range U.S. ATACMS missiles and Britain’s Storm Shadow, to strike deep into Russian territory and limit Russia’s offensive capabilities.

“Ukraine needs to fight and win,” David Lammy said at a news conference alongside Blinken and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibikha.

The British foreign secretary suggested those talks could continue in the coming weeks, comments that disappointed Ukraine, which had hoped Western countries would abandon concerns about escalation.

Asked ahead of the press conference how optimistic he was that the UK and the US would give the go-ahead for strikes deep inside Russian territory, Zelensky said such a possibility depended on the “optimism” of his partners.

“We want to make bold decisions. That’s the most important thing for us today,” Zelenskiy said.

In comments posted on his Telegram channel, Zelensky called the negotiations “long-term and meaningful.”

“All the important issues were discussed.”

“The most important thing is that all views on Ukraine are accepted. And these views revolve around long-range weapons, logistics for frontline brigades and a strategy for peace.

Now, Washington and European governments remain concerned that a decision to lift restrictions on long-range strikes could be seen as a provocation that would draw Russia into direct conflict with the West, while at the same time being seen as an admission of aggression in Ukraine, where more support was needed to gain an advantage in the war.

Speaker of the Russian State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin asserted that if the US and its allies allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons to attack Russia, the Russian government would consider it a party to the war.

Ability to Compromise

U.S. President Joe Biden believes there is still room for compromise, and when asked about the possibility of Washington lifting restrictions on the use of long-range weapons, he said the administration was “looking in the direction.”

Two air raid sirens were sounded before and after the press conference during Mr. Blinken and Mr. Lammy’s visit to Kiev, and a wreath-laying ceremony that the two officials were due to attend was canceled.

Both sirens were likely activated due to a ballistic missile threat, but the targets of these missiles and associated developments remain unclear.

Mr Blinken announced more than $700 million in aid for Ukraine, while Mr Lammy said Britain would provide a further £70 billion or more.

After more than two and a half years of fighting, Russian forces are still slowly advancing in eastern Ukraine, while Kiev’s forces are already trying to seize territory they seized in western Russia following a surprise attack last month.

After a series of early victories, the Ukrainian operation has slowed, and on Wednesday a senior Russian commander said Ukrainian forces had regained control of 10 settlements.

Ukraine has not commented on Russia’s latest victories and Reuters was unable to verify the developments.

Zelensky is due to visit the United States at the end of September to unveil a plan to end the war with Biden and his two likely successors after the November 2024 U.S. presidential election.