U.S. and Allies Ramping Up Support for Ukraine

Fresh off an unannounced visit to Kyiv and consultations with leaders both at home and abroad, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made clear on Tuesday that he has seen no evidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to end the war in Ukraine through diplomacy, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

“We’ve seen no sign to date that President Putin is serious about meaningful negotiations." the U.S. top diplomat said when testifying before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. "If he is, and if the Ukrainians engage, we’ll support that"

For Blinken, it is important for the country not to "let up” its support for Ukraine two months after Russia’s invasion. “Our purpose is to make sure that [Ukrainians] have within their hands the ability to repeal the Russian aggression, and, indeed, to strengthen their hand at an eventual negotiating table,” he said.

The U.S. and its allies signaled they are moving swiftly and powerfully to support Ukrainian forces and escalate pressure on Russia's economy amid its two-month invasion.

Germany announced on Tuesday it would send heavy weapons to Ukraine for the first time. That news follows the British government’s Monday announcement that it would give a small number of Stormer armored vehicles outfitted with launchers for anti-aircraft missiles.

U.S. Defense secretary Austin, meeting at a U.S. air base in Germany with officials from 40 countries, including NATO members, said Putin "never imagined the whole world would rally behind Ukraine so swiftly and surely."

“My Ukrainian friends: We know the burden that all of you carry. And you should know that all of us have your back,” the Pentagon chief said, adding that allies supporting Ukraine would meet monthly to coordinate further aid. The aim, he said. was to "help Ukraine to win the fight against Russia's unjust invasion and to help build up Ukraine for tomorrow's challenges."

Back in Washington D.C., State Department spokesman Ned Price also reinstated that Washington wants to see Ukraine win over Russia.

"We believe this war has to be brought to a close through dialogue and diplomacy, and we have consistently said that we support diplomatic efforts that are done in full coordination, in the first instance, with Ukraine. That’s most important because these are not choices that will be the purview of any other country, any other international organization," Price told TURAN's correspondent during a daily press briefing.

"The Ukrainian Government, an expression of the will of the Ukrainian people, ultimately is going to have to be the entity that makes decisions that affect its country going forward."

So whether it’s the efforts of the Turkish Government, of the German Government, of the Israeli Government, of the French Government, of other governments who have used their good offices or offered their auspices for dialogue between the parties or attempted to shuttle between Russia and Ukraine, "we support those efforts as long as they’re done in full coordination with our Ukrainian partners" the spokesperson said.

Price also recalled that the U.S. is influencing Moscow with the help of sanctions, visa and export restrictions.

"So we’ve made the point that as long as Moscow escalates, we will escalate with our sanctions, with our economic measures. If Moscow changes its course, we will change our course" he said.

During his meeting with Blinken and Austin last weekend, Ukrainian president Zelenskyy reportedly handed over a plan to strengthen sanctions against Russia and enablers.

When asked by TURAN's correspondent about the plan, Price said that sanctions enforcement, the next step in sanctions against Russia and those who are enabling the Kremlin’s war against Ukraine, "that certainly was a topic of discussion, and we’ll continue to coordinate closely with our Ukrainian partners on that."

While in Kyiv over the weekend, Blinken and Austin also pledged more military assistance, offering $713 million for Ukraine and 15 partner nations.

"Russia's invasion is indefensible, and so are Russian atrocities," Austin said Tuesday. "We all start today from a position of moral clarity. Russia is waging a war of choice to indulge the ambitions of one man. Ukraine is fighting a war of necessity to defend its democracy, its sovereignty and its citizens."

The U.S. has already sent billions of dollars of equipment to help Ukraine fend off the Russian advance, and the White House is expected to ask Congress for more funds later this week.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.