Ukrainian Overseas Minister Andrii Sybiha mentioned on Wednesday he was “cautiously optimistic” after discussing with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken the potential of conducting deep strikes on Russia in addition to Euro-Atlantic integration.
Kyiv has lengthy been lobbying for Western allies to permit long-range assaults on army targets inside Russia, whereas additionally urgent for an invite to hitch the NATO alliance.
Allies together with the US have been unwilling to allow long-range assaults for worry of additional escalating the battle, and a few are against inviting Ukraine to hitch NATO.
“We mentioned problems with long-range strikes and Euro-Atlantic integration. And right here we are also cautiously optimistic,” Sybiha mentioned in televised feedback.
His talks with Blinken in Brussels come at a turbulent time, only one week after Donald Trump gained the U.S. presidential election. Trump has lengthy criticised the size of U.S. monetary and army assist to Ukraine and has vowed to finish the warfare shortly, with out explaining how.
Ukraine and its European allies worry this might imply accepting peace on Russia’s phrases, which might entail giant territorial losses and rule out Ukraine ever becoming a member of NATO.
The outgoing Biden administration has pledged to promptly ship what stays of the promised assist packages earlier than Trump’s return to the White Home in January.
Sybiha mentioned his talks in Brussels had additionally touched on army assist.
“Now we have a transparent image – a transparent timeframe, clear volumes – of what’s going to be delivered to Ukraine by the tip of the yr. This helps us strategically to plan our actions on the battlefield,” he mentioned.
The help, he added, would come with weapons and funds for arms manufacturing offers.
This text was produced by Reuters information company. It has not been edited by World South World.
