U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that the Biden administration may be willing to tolerate attacks by Ukrainian forces inside Russia and said the United States would “adjust and adjust” its stance as battlefield conditions change.
Blinken said the United States neither encouraged nor condoned such attacks. But he said Ukrainians need to make their own decisions about how best to defend themselves – a position he has stated before – and that the U.S. government has “made the necessary adjustments and adjustments” as the war has evolved.
Asked by reporters whether his remarks meant the United States could support Ukrainian attacks inside Russia, he said, “Adapting and adjusting is exactly what it means.”
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Washington has provided military assistance to Ukraine, but has repeatedly asked them not to launch US-made weapons into Russian territory to avoid escalating the war.
Some European leaders have called on President Biden to halt the restrictions, including NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Blinken made the remarks in the Moldovan capital Chisinau, where he stood next to the country’s President Maia Sandu. people. The two were interviewed by reporters after meeting at the Blue House in the afternoon.
“Our neighbors, our friends in Ukraine, they are paying a shocking price every day,” Ms. Sandhu said.
Blinken announced new aid to Moldova to address a range of issues stemming from Russian aggression, including the invasion of Ukraine.
The first of the two packages mentioned $50 million for broad support to Moldovan industry and government and democratic processes. Mr. Blinken mentioned the energy and agriculture sectors and the need to combat disinformation.
“What is so powerful here is a deep and deep-rooted commitment to democracy in the face of Russian bullying,” Mr. Blinken said.
Sandhu thanked the United States for its help in fighting corruption, building renewable energy infrastructure and addressing “the adversity of democracy,” a nod to Russian election interference.
The second aid package mentioned is an $85 million package aimed at helping Moldova become more energy resilient and reduce its reliance on power generation in the Russian-backed separatist eastern region of Transnistria. Mr. Blinken said the support would help Moldova bolster its battery storage capabilities and high-voltage transmission lines, among other energy needs.
Moldova recently ended its reliance on natural gas imports from Russia and now purchases gas from several countries, including the United States.
Blinken’s visit to Chisinau is the first stop on a trip aimed at demonstrating U.S. support for countries facing hostile Russia. Blinken will next travel to the Czech Republic and is scheduled to attend a meeting of NATO foreign ministers and senior officials on Thursday and Friday. They plan to discuss how best to support Ukraine.
The visit follows Blinken’s overnight visit to Kiev two weeks ago.
Ms Sandu advocates Moldova joining the European Union and plans to hold a referendum on the issue on the same day as the October presidential election.
U.S. and European analysts say Moscow may try to interfere in the election, as it has done elsewhere in Europe. The Biden administration has publicly stated that Russian agents use a variety of methods to carry out such interference, from hacking to orchestrating campaigns through social networks to providing funds to favored politicians.
About 1,500 Russian troops are stationed in Transnistria on the border with Ukraine. U.S. officials are watching for any signs that Russian President Vladimir V. Putin might try to annex the territory.
The official purpose of the NATO meeting in the Czech Republic is to set the agenda for the Alliance leaders’ 80th anniversary meeting in Washington in July. The group is not expected to announce that Ukraine will now join NATO, a desire Zelensky reiterated in the wake of Russia’s invasion. However, they are expected to work out the details of a push for Ukraine to join.
Ukraine’s war effort has been waning as Russian forces launch an offensive toward Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, in large part because of shortages of weapons and ammunition. Fewer citizens were able to fight.
Biden recently signed a bill passed by Congress to provide new military aid to Ukraine, despite opposition from some Republicans.
Russia is producing munitions at a rapid pace, and U.S.-led sanctions have failed to weaken its military-industrial capabilities. Biden and his aides say China has played a decisive role in supporting Russia by boosting its weapons production by exporting dual-use equipment and other goods. Blinken is expected to highlight China’s support for Russia during discussions at the NATO meeting in Prague.
