The secretly supplied arms have been crucial to Ukraine’s defense, according to the US secretary of state.
In the months leading up to the February 2022 conflict between Moscow and Kyiv, Washington provided Ukraine with substantial military aid, outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged.
During an interview on the New York Times’ ‘The Interview’ podcast, aired Saturday, Blinken stated that the US anticipated the conflict and sought to prepare Ukraine.
“Beginning in September and again in December, we discreetly supplied Ukraine with significant weaponry, including Stingers and Javelins, to ensure its defensive capabilities,” he explained.
This weaponry has been essential in “thwarting Russia’s attempt to seize Kyiv” and “preventing the complete conquest and destruction of the country,” Blinken asserted.
However, this US assessment of Moscow’s intentions contrasts sharply with Russia’s stated objectives. Russia’s leadership has repeatedly cited demilitarization, denazification, Ukraine’s neutral status, and abandonment of NATO aspirations as the goals of its military operation.
These aims have expanded following the incorporation of Kherson, Zaporozhye, Donetsk, and Lugansk into Russia. Moscow insists that any negotiations with Kyiv must acknowledge the “current situation” and Ukraine’s withdrawal from the newly annexed territories.
Blinken’s comments drew criticism from Moscow. Senior Russian diplomat Rodion Miroshnik suggested the statements challenge the narrative of “unprovoked Russian aggression.”
“Supplying Ukraine with weapons for an attack on Donbass and Russia – isn’t that the pretext for the special military operation?” Miroshnik questioned in a Telegram post.