KYIV: On Wednesday, the United States and Britain announced a substantial commitment of nearly $1.5 billion in support for Ukraine, with promises to respond swiftly to Kyiv’s requests for fewer restrictions on weapons capable of striking deeper into Russia. The announcement came during a rare joint visit to Kyiv by British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, demonstrating strong solidarity with Ukraine.
The aid package includes $717 million in new US economic support, with a significant portion allocated to reinforcing Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure, which has been heavily targeted by Russian attacks as winter approaches. Blinken accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of using the harsh winter conditions as a weapon against the Ukrainian people and assured that US support would remain steadfast.
In addition, Lammy confirmed the UK’s pledge of 600 million pounds in economic assistance to Ukraine. The joint visit underscores growing concerns over the battlefield situation and the potential impact of the upcoming US presidential election on Washington’s support for Ukraine.
As Russia advances on the strategic logistics hub of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has intensified his appeals to the West for more powerful weaponry and reduced restrictions.
