Blinken Hints U.S. May Allow Ukraine Greater Latitude to Strike in Russia

• United States International Relations  
• Defense and Military Forces  
• Russian Invasion of Ukraine (2022)  
• Missiles and Missile Defense Systems  

-Controlled Territories

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken hinted on Sunday that the United States may allow Ukraine greater latitude to strike at targets in Russia-controlled territories, as the war in Ukraine enters its second year.

Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” Blinken said the United States was providing Ukraine with “significant” military aid, including artillery, armored vehicles, and drones, and that the United States was “going to continue to do that.”

When asked by host George Stephanopoulos whether the United States would allow Ukraine to strike at targets in Russia-controlled territories, Blinken said, “We’re going to continue to provide Ukraine with the capabilities to defend itself, to defend its territory, to defend its people.”

“And that includes, obviously, the ability to strike back at those who are attacking them,” Blinken added.

Blinken’s comments come as Ukraine has been stepping up its attacks on Russian-controlled territories in eastern Ukraine, including the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where pro-Russian separatists have been fighting Ukrainian government forces since 2014.

Ukraine has accused Russia of providing military support to the separatists, a charge that Russia denies.

The United States and its allies have imposed sanctions on Russia over its annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its support for the separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Blinken’s comments also come as the United States and its allies have been stepping up their support for Ukraine in the face of a renewed Russian military buildup near Ukraine’s border.

U.S. President Joe Biden has said that the United States will respond “swiftly and decisively” if Russia invades Ukraine, and the United States and its allies have been providing Ukraine with military aid and diplomatic support.

Russia has denied any plans to invade Ukraine, but has demanded security guarantees from the United States and its allies, including a pledge not to expand NATO to Ukraine or other former Soviet republics.