US will help Ukraine return to the border before conflict with Russia broke out
(Baonghean.vn) - US Secretary of State Blinken said that the US will support Ukraine's efforts to return to the status quo on the border before the conflict broke out. However, Mr. Blinken did not clarify whether the US would accept Ukraine's request to use US weapons to attack deep into Russian territory.
According to TASS news agency on May 23, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that the Washington administration supports Ukraine's efforts to return to the border line before Russia began its special military campaign.
Speaking at a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on May 22, answering the question of whether the Pentagon and the White House National Security Council supported Kiev's desire to return to the borders that existed before the start of the war, Secretary of State Blinken affirmed "Yes".
However, Secretary of State Blinken avoided directly answering a question clarifying whether the US was ready to comply with Ukraine's request and lift restrictions on Kiev's use of US weapons to carry out strikes deep into Russian territory.
US Secretary of State Blinken said: "Ukraine will make the necessary decisions to defend itself. I want to make sure they have everything they need to do this."
At the same time, Mr. Blinken once again affirmed that the problem is not just about the West transferring heavy weapons to Ukraine. Handing over an F-16 fighter jet or an Abrams tank is not enough. The US must ensure that Ukrainian soldiers are trained to use them. In addition, according to Mr. Blinken, the US needs to ensure that Ukrainian forces are capable of maintaining such equipment.
In addition, Secretary of State Blinken argued that, for Russia, Ukraine's possible accession to NATO "is not a red line." This view of Mr. Blinken caused opposition from the House of Representatives, because all said that "this is clearly a red line."
Meanwhile, at a hearing in the US Senate Armed Services Committee, the head of the US Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration, Jill Hruby, said the US is transferring equipment and training to Ukraine in case of a possible nuclear emergency.
“This includes the transfer of equipment, training and technical guidance to ensure the safe operation of nuclear power plants that remain under Ukrainian control, the protection of critical infrastructure, especially the power grid, providing situational awareness of any nuclear emergencies occurring in the country, and enhancing the emergency preparedness and capabilities of Ukrainian partners to respond to events in the nuclear sector,” Hruby said./.
