A Little Moral Support

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Top American and British diplomats reaffirmed their support for Ukraine during a rare joint visit to Kyiv Wednesday, as Ukrainian officials pressed for permission to use long-range missiles against targets inside Russia amid escalating Russian airstrikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and deadly drone attacks on Moscow, the Associated Press reported.

During their visit, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy underscored their commitment to the war-torn nation, while condemning the “horrific” loss of civilian life from Russia’s ongoing missile and drone attacks.

Lammy said the UK is setting aside an annual $3.9 billion in aid to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Blinken highlighted the upcoming difficult winter Ukrainians will face, especially because Russian strikes have already knocked out 70 percent of Ukraine’s power generation capacity. He also accused Iran of supplying Russia with Fath-360 short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, calling the move a “dramatic escalation” of the war.

The visit comes as Russia intensifies its assaults on Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region and other civilian areas, causing numerous casualties.

A key topic during the visit was Ukraine’s repeated calls for the US and its allies to authorize the use of long-range missiles to target Russian military sites. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal claimed that striking these targets within Russia would enhance Ukraine’s security and protect civilians.

However, Western leaders, including US President Joe Biden, have been hesitant over fears that it would escalate the conflict.

The diplomatic visit came a day after Ukraine launched its largest drone assault on the Moscow region on Tuesday, killing one person, damaging homes and disrupting nearly 50 flights from Moscow’s airports, Reuters wrote.

Russian authorities reported downing 20 drones near Moscow and 124 more across other regions, including Bryansk.

Moscow, typically insulated from the war, has increasingly become a target as Ukraine brings the war into Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the drone attacks as “terrorism,” while both sides continue to expand their use of drones in the conflict.