A top Ukrainian official walked away from a meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, believing that the White House would approve Kiev using American missiles to strike deep inside Russia.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met with Blinken in Brussels on Wednesday. “We discussed issues of long-range strikes and Euro-Atlantic integration. And here we also are cautiously optimistic,” Sybiha stated following the meeting.
A statement from State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller on the meeting did not mention authorizing long-range strikes but did say Blinken reaffirmed that Ukraine would one day join NATO. “The Secretary underscored the United States’ support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s aggression and continues on its irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership,” he said.
After Donald Trump won last week’s election, the Joe Biden administration announced it would rush $6 billion in weapons to Ukraine that Congres previously funded before Trump took office in January.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is pushing Biden to loan Ukraine an additional $20 billion to buy weapons, and sign off on long-range strikes inside Russia before Biden’s term ends.
Trump’s election has created some panic among Western leaders that he will bring an end to the proxy war in Ukraine. However, shortly after Trump won the election, he spoke with President Volodymyr Zelensky on the phone, leaving the Ukrainian leader feeling reassured.
Still, NATO members have worked with Biden to “Trump-proof” Washington’s massive support to Ukraine in order to prevent Trump from bringing the conflict to an end.
While in Brussels, Blinken also met with NATO’s new Secretary General Mark Rutte. America’s top diplomat explained that Biden will use his final days in office to “continue to shore up everything we’re doing for Ukraine.” He added, “President Biden fully intends to drive through the tape and use every day to continue to do what we have done these last four years, which is strengthen this alliance.”
