Ukraine updates: Biden hints end to long-range weapons ban

Ukrainian Foreign Minister  Andrii Sybiha urged Kyiv's allies on its western borders to shoot down Russian drones and missiles.

"There have already been numerous instances of Russian aircraft violating the airspace of neighboring countries and NATO countries," Sybiha said. Allies should "explore the possibility of shooting down missiles over the territory of Ukraine."

Lithuania's defense minister also said NATO aircraft based in the Baltic states should shoot down Russian drones that drift into their airspace. The statement came on Wednesday after a Russian drone crashed in Latvia last week.

Warplanes from other NATO members have patrolled their skies over the Baltic states since they joined the military alliance in 2004 since the former Soviet republics do not have the necessary aircraft.

NATO aircraft "must not only patrol but also, if necessary, if possible destroy the drones," Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas said, adding that the decision-making process should be shortened to enable such action by alliance members.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy made a joint visit to Kyiv to reaffirm their support for Ukraine in the war with Russia.

Blinken stated that the visit sends a "strong message" of commitment to the success and victory of a Ukraine "that stands on its own militarily, economically, and diplomatically."

He announced $717 million (€650 million) in new economic and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, including new support for the country's energy.

Lammy promised British support until the war of "Russian imperialism and aggression" ends and described Russian attacks as "horrific, barbaric and unbelievable."

He said the UK would also provide over 600 million pounds (€710 million $781 million) in aid to Ukraine.

On Tuesday, the International Monetary Fund also agreed to provide Ukraine with $1.1 billion in support for infrastructure damaged by Russian attacks. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a press conference in Kyiv on Wednesday that he will present a "victory plan" to US President Joe Biden that could pressure Russia to agree to a diplomatic end to the war. 

Zelenskyy also stated that the plan largely depends on the support of the United States and other allies.

Zelenskyy is expected to travel to the United States to participate in the UN General Assembly later this month and could raise the topic in a possible meeting with Biden. However, no solid date has yet been scheduled for such a meeting.

The Ukrainian leader also mentioned his intention to organize a follow-up summit to advance its vision of peace this year, where Russia could potentially be included.

Moscow has stated that it will not negotiate as long as Ukraine has troops on its territory. Russia launched a full-scale invasion into Ukrainian territory in February 2022.

The press conference took place during the visit of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy to Ukraine.

The UK said on Wednesday that it has summoned Iran's charge d'affaires over the transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia.

The British government warned that there will be a "significant response" if Iran continues to supply missiles to Russia.

On Tuesday, the United States confirmed that Russia had already received Iranian ballistic missiles and could use them in Ukraine in the coming weeks.

The UK, the US, and their EU allies have announced sanctions against Iranian individuals and entities involved in the production and transportation of these missiles.

The sanctions include banning Iran Air from using the airspace of those countries.

Moscow will consider the United States and its allies to be party to the war in Ukraine should American long-range missiles become involved in the conflict, a leading Russian politican warned.

"Washington and other European states are becoming parties to the war in Ukraine," Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of Russia's Duma, the lower house of parliament, wrote on Telegram.

"All this will lead to the fact that our country will be forced to respond using more powerful and destructive weapons to protect its citizens," Volodin added.

According to the Reuters news agency, Western allies and Kyiv are close to a deal that would see the restrictions on long-range missiles dropped.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov echoed Volodin's comments, saying Moscow would react "appropriately" to such a mvoe by the US.
 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy were both scheduled to arrive in Ukraine on Wednesday to meet directly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The talks would revolve around Ukraine's current military goals and what kind of aid it was seeking from allies.

"I think it’s a critical moment for Ukraine in the midst of is an intense fall fighting season with Russia continuing to escalate its aggression," Blinken said in London at a news conference with Lammy.

Zelenskyy is expected to press for an end to many of the restrictions over how his army is allowed to use Western weapons, as his military is being stretched two and a half years into the war.

Asked by a reporter if the US would lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range weapons against Russia, US President Joe Biden said his team was "working on that now."

Although Ukraine's allies have been supplying troves of weapons to Kyiv, the aid has come with many strings attached. Washington has so far been reluctant to allow Kyiv to hit targets deep inside Russia over fears of escalating the conflict.

The West has been particularly cautious about drawing NATO allies into an all-out war.

Even if the Biden administration approved a relaxation of the rules, it would take months for Kyiv to get the weapons due to technical and bureaucratic hurdles.

es/kb (AP, AFP, dpa, Reuters)