Washington intends to continue to help build Ukraine’s military capabilities while engaging diplomatically with Moscow. The corresponding statement was made on Sunday, January 23, by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
“Even at a time when we are engaging in diplomatic engagement to see if there is an opportunity to strengthen collective security on a reciprocal basis, we are responding to some of the concerns that Russia has, and it is responding to many of our concerns, even while we are doing it, we are strengthening defense and deterrence, ”the secretary of state quotes the press service of the department.
He explained the actions of the United States to build up the military power of Ukraine as a desire to make sure that Russia is aware of the significant consequences for it in case of neglecting the diplomatic course, as well as “resumption of aggression” against Kiev.
Blinken specified that Washington has been actively working in recent weeks to rally allies and partners across Europe on the Ukrainian issue.
“Last year we provided more military assistance to Ukraine than in any previous year. We acted against Russian agents in Ukraine who are trying to destabilize the government. I just approved the transfer of American military technology in other countries to Ukraine,” the Secretary of State added.
Earlier on Sunday, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said that a plane with a second batch of military aid from the United States with 80 tons of weapons had landed in Kiev.
According to the local newspaper HB, we are talking about disposable hand grenade launchers M141 Bunker Defeat Munition or SMAW-D. In addition, a batch of Javelin anti-tank systems was also transferred.
A day earlier, the US embassy in Kiev announced the arrival of the first batch of ammunition to Ukraine against the backdrop of allegedly growing Russian aggression. It was about a cargo that included about 200 thousand pounds (about 91 kg) of weapons, including ammunition for the defense of the Ukrainian front line.
As noted in the press service of the US diplomatic mission, in this way the American side demonstrates devotion to strengthening the defense of Ukraine against the backdrop of “growing Russian aggression.”
On the same day, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that the United States would send additional military aid to Ukraine in the near future.
On January 19, the Russian embassy urged the United States to refuse to supply weapons to Ukraine if the United States is actually committed to diplomatic efforts to resolve the intra-Ukrainian conflict.
On January 16, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov stressed that Russia does not show military escalation against Ukraine.
Prior to that, on January 14, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that the United States had evidence that Russia was allegedly preparing a pretext for invading Ukraine. Kirby noted that it was about “a group of operatives who are preparing to conduct a false flag operation.”
On the same day, Sergei Lavrov said that Russia had never threatened the Ukrainian people. In addition, the Foreign Ministry has repeatedly stressed that the Russian Federation did not attack and does not plan to attack Ukraine.