Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken suggested Wednesday that the Biden administration may be willing to tolerate Ukrainian military strikes inside Russia, saying the United States would “adapt and adjust” its position based on changing conditions on the battlefield.
Mr. Blinken said the United States neither encouraged nor permitted such attacks. But he said Ukrainians must make their own decisions about how best to defend themselves — a position he has expressed before — and that the U.S. government has “adapted and adjusted as necessary” as the war has evolved. .
When asked by a reporter if his comments meant the United States might support Ukraine’s attacks inside Russia, he replied: “Adapting and adjusting means exactly that.”
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Washington has sent military aid to the Ukrainians but has repeatedly demanded that they not fire American-made weapons into Russian territory. , for fear of an escalation of the war.
Several European leaders have called on President Biden to stop imposing these limits, including Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and Emmanuel Macron, President of France.
Mr. Blinken made the remarks in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, alongside Maia Sandu, the country’s president, who is expected to face a pro-Russian candidate in her re-election in October. The two spoke with reporters after an afternoon meeting at the presidential offices.
“Our neighbors, our friends in Ukraine are paying an outrageous price every day,” Ms. Sandu said.
Mr. Blinken announced new aid to Moldova to address a range of problems stemming from Russian aggression, including its invasion of Ukraine.
The first of the two packages mentioned broad support of $50 million for Moldovan industry and government, as well as democratic processes. Mr. Blinken mentioned the energy and agriculture sectors, as well as the need to combat misinformation.
“What is so powerful here is the deep, deep-rooted commitment to democracy in the face of Russian bullying,” Blinken said.
Ms. Sandu thanked Mr. Blinken for U.S. help in fighting corruption, building renewable energy infrastructure and tackling “adversities of democracy,” a nod to Russian interference in the elections.
The second aid package mentioned was $85 million to help Moldova increase its energy resilience and reduce its dependence on electricity produced in a Russian-backed breakaway eastern region, the Transnistria. The support would help Moldova boost its battery storage capacity and high-voltage transmission lines, among other energy needs, Blinken said.
Moldova recently ended its dependence on natural gas imports from Russia and now purchases gas from several countries, including the United States.
Mr. Blinken’s visit to Chisinau was the first stop on a trip aimed at showing U.S. support for nations facing a hostile Russia. Blinken will then travel to the Czech Republic, where he is scheduled to attend a meeting of foreign ministers and senior NATO officials on Thursday and Friday. They plan to discuss how best to support Ukraine.
The trip follows Mr. Blinken’s overnight visit to kyiv more than two weeks ago.
Sandu has advocated Moldova’s entry into the European Union and scheduled a referendum on the issue on the same day as October’s presidential election.
U.S. and European analysts say Moscow will likely try to interfere in the elections, as it has elsewhere in Europe. The Biden administration has spoken publicly about Russian agents engaging in such interference using a variety of means, from hacking to orchestrating social media campaigns to distributing money to favored politicians.
Around 1,500 Russian soldiers are present in Transnistria, the border with Ukraine. U.S. officials are watching for any signs that Russian President Vladimir V. Putin may attempt to annex the territory.
The NATO session in the Czech Republic is officially aimed at setting the agenda for the alliance’s leaders’ meeting to be held in Washington in July for the 80th anniversary. The group is not expected to declare that Ukraine will now join NATO, an aspiration Mr. Zelensky reiterated after the Russian invasion. However, they should sort out the details to move Ukraine forward in the accession process.
As Russian troops launch an offensive in Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, Ukraine’s war effort is faltering, largely due to a shortage of weapons and ammunition. There are also fewer citizens able to join the fight.
Mr. Biden recently signed a bill passed by Congress, despite some Republican opposition, that provides new military aid to Ukraine.
Russia produces munitions at a rapid pace, and U.S. sanctions have failed to cripple its military-industrial capabilities. Mr. Biden and his aides say China has been instrumental in supporting Russia through its exports of dual-use equipment and other goods that have allowed it to boost its weapons production. Mr Blinken is expected to highlight China’s support for Russia during his discussions at the NATO meeting in Prague.
News Source : www.nytimes.com
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