Blinken hints that the United States may accept Ukrainian strikes in Russia with American weapons

Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested on Wednesday that the Biden administration could be open to tolerating strikes carried out by the Ukrainian military inside Russia using American-made weapons, saying the United States “will adapt and adjust” its position based on changing conditions on the ground. battlefield.

Mr. Blinken said the United States neither encouraged nor permitted such attacks. But he said that Ukrainians needed to make their own decisions about how best to defend themselves — a position he had stated before — and that the U.S. government had “adapted and adjusted as necessary” as the war evolved.

When a reporter asked him if his word “adapt and adapt” meant the United States could support attacks by Ukraine with American-made weapons inside Russia, he said: “Adapt and adapt means just that” — and he meant those words, suggesting Washington’s flexibility. .

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Washington has sent military aid to the Ukrainians but has repeatedly asked them not to launch US-made weapons on Russian territory for fear of escalating the war.

Many European leaders called on President Biden to stop imposing these restrictions, including Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary-General of NATO, and Emmanuel Macron, President of France.

Mr. Blinken made his remarks in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, while standing next to Maia Sandu, the country’s president, who is expected to face a pro-Russian candidate when she runs for re-election in October. The two spoke to reporters after an afternoon meeting at the presidential offices.

“Our neighbors and friends in Ukraine are paying a heavy price every day,” Ms. Sandu said.

Mr. Blinken announced new aid to Moldova to address a range of issues arising from Russian aggression, including its invasion of Ukraine.

The first of the package was to provide $50 million in broad support to Moldova’s industry and government, as well as to democratic processes. Mr. Blinken pointed to the energy and agricultural sectors, and the need to combat misinformation.

“What is strong here is a deep and ingrained commitment to democracy, in the face of Russian bullying,” Blinken said.

Ms. Sandu thanked Mr. Blinken for American assistance in fighting corruption, building renewable energy infrastructure and addressing the “tribulations of democracy,” a reference to Russian election interference.

The second aforementioned aid package was worth $85 million to help Moldova increase its energy flexibility and reduce its consumption Reliance on electricity She grew up in the Russian-backed breakaway region of Transnistria in the east. These funds, part of a $300 million commitment previously announced by USAID, will help Moldova boost battery storage capabilities and high-voltage transmission lines, among other energy needs, Blinken said.

Moldova recently ended its dependence on natural gas imports from Russia, and is now purchasing gas from a number of countries, including the United States.

Mr. Blinken’s visit to Chisinau was the first stop on a trip aimed at showing American support for countries facing a hostile Russia. Mr. Blinken will then head 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.

This trip comes after Mr. Blinken’s overnight visit to Kiev more than two weeks ago.

Ms. Sandu has called for Moldova’s accession to the European Union, and has scheduled 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 elections, as it has done elsewhere in Europe. The Biden administration has spoken publicly about Russian agents carrying out such interference using various means, from hacking to campaigning through social networks to distributing money to favored politicians.

About 1,500 Russian soldiers are deployed in Transnistria, which borders Ukraine. US officials are monitoring any signs that Russian President Vladimir Putin might try to annex the region.

The NATO session in the Czech Republic officially aims to advance the agenda of the alliance’s leaders’ meeting in Washington next July. The group is not expected to announce that Ukraine will now join NATO, an ambition that Mr. Zelensky reiterated after the Russian invasion. However, they are expected to work out the details needed to move Ukraine along the accession process.

As Russian forces launch their assault on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, Ukrainian war efforts are declining, largely due to a shortage of weapons and ammunition. There are also fewer citizens able to join the fight.

Biden recently signed a bill passed by Congress, despite some Republican opposition, granting new military aid to Ukraine.

Russia is producing munitions at a rapid rate, and US-led sanctions have failed to cripple its military industrial capabilities. Biden and his aides say China has played a crucial role in supporting Russia through exports of dual-use equipment and other goods that have allowed it to boost weapons production. Mr. Blinken is expected to highlight China’s support for Russia in his discussions at the NATO meeting in Prague.