Blinken Visits Kyiv as Ukraine Seeks Long-Range Strikes on Russia

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy conducted a joint visit to Kyiv on Wednesday, as Ukraine continues to call for the capability to use long-range missiles against Russian forces.

The two diplomats traveled by train from Poland to the Ukrainian capital just hours after the U.S. presidential debate, where Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump discussed the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Blinken, who had been in London prior to the trip, accused Iran of supplying Russia with Fath-360 short-range ballistic missiles, labeling it a “dramatic escalation” in the conflict.

Ukraine has been urging approval from the United States and other Western allies for the use of long-range weapons to target Russian positions. With reports of new arms being acquired by Russia, Ukraine’s requests are likely to gain further urgency.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal expressed hope during his meeting with Lammy, stating, “We hope that long-range equipment for strikes on the territory of our enemy will be reached and we will have it.” He emphasized the need for unwavering support from allied nations in this endeavor.

Shmyhal characterized the discussions with Lammy as “intense,” though he provided no further details in his Telegram post following their meeting.

During a news conference on Tuesday, Shmyhal stated that permitting strikes on Russian military targets would enhance safety for Ukrainian civilians. “If we are allowed to destroy military targets or weapons prepared by the enemy for attacks on Ukraine, it would certainly bring more safety for our civilians, our people, and our children,” he noted.

He underscored Ukraine’s determination to continue pressing for this capability every day. Referring to Iran’s missile contributions to Russia, Shmyhal remarked on the serious nature of the situation. He stated, “Russia’s use of weapons from its terrorist allies to strike at Ukraine continues their genocidal war and terrorism on our territory.”

Shmyhal further indicated that Ukraine needs to respond to this aggression by targeting military assets in Russia to secure greater safety for its citizens.

This visit comes ahead of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s planned trip to Washington, D.C., where he is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden on Friday. Discussions are expected to include Ukraine’s requests for permission to conduct strikes within Russian territory.

Despite allowing Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied missiles for self-defense, Biden has generally restricted the range to prevent the conflict from further escalating.

The joint visit by the top officials from the United States and the United Kingdom represents a significant show of unity and support for Ukraine as the region braces for a potentially harsh winter filled with Russian military activity.

In recent weeks, Russian airstrikes have increased, predominantly targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, resulting in nightly missile and drone assaults.

As Blinken and Lammy arrived in Kyiv, the British government announced a ban on ten commercial vessels it claims are illegally transporting Russian oil in breach of international sanctions. These ships will be prohibited from entering British ports and can be detained if they attempt to do so.