Blinken's European Tour: Ukraine Seeks Expanded Weapon Use

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken concludes a Ukraine-focused European tour in Poland. Ukrainian officials repeatedly requested the use of Western-supplied weaponry for long-range strikes inside Russia. Blinken, along with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, pledged nearly $1.5 billion in aid to Ukraine, primarily for its energy grid.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is closing a three-nation, Ukraine-centered European tour in Poland after Ukrainian officials pressed for the use of Western weapons in long-range strikes against Russia. On Thursday, Blinken visited Warsaw after a day in Kyiv with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, where they promised to relay Ukrainian requests to their leaders.

President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will meet in the US on Friday, amid growing signs that both countries are becoming more open to allowing Ukrainians to strike deeper into Russia. Poland, a NATO member sharing a border with Ukraine, has been supportive, with Blinken expected to hear similar requests from Polish leaders.

On Wednesday, Blinken and Lammy announced that the US and UK pledged almost $1.5 billion in additional aid to Ukraine. Most of this aid targets bolstering Ukraine's energy grid, frequently hit by Russia. Despite a lengthy wish list from Ukraine, their primary request remains to ease restrictions on where Western weapons can be used.

(With inputs from agencies.)