Blinken says Ukraine's allies will 'adjust and adapt' their weapons

CHISINAU: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that Ukraine's allies would “adapt and adjust” their arms deliveries to ensure kyiv's success, as calls grew to allow Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike targets on Russian soil.

Blinken, who reportedly pressured President Joe Biden to relax rules that prevent Ukraine from striking targets on Russian soil, did not announce changes but suggested he was receptive to calls .

Since the Russian invasion, “as conditions have changed, as the battlefield has changed, as what Russia is doing has changed in terms of continuing its aggression (and) escalation, we have adapted and adjusted,” Blinken told reporters during a visit. in Moldova on the eve of the NATO negotiations in Prague.

Asked if he supported change, Blinken reiterated: “Every step of the way, we have adapted and adjusted as necessary. And that's exactly what we will do in the future.

“We are still listening, we are still learning and we are still making decisions about what is necessary to ensure that Ukraine can continue to defend itself effectively,” he said.

Blinken, who visited Ukraine earlier this month, expressed confidence in kyiv as its forces began receiving U.S. weapons blocked by partisan fighting in Washington.

He said Russian victories on the battlefield still demonstrate a failure in President Vladimir Putin's earlier goal of seizing the city of Kharkiv.

“As you look ahead to the next period, we are on track to help make Ukraine a success – a country that is solidly self-sufficient militarily, economically and democratically. And that is the ultimate rebuke to Mr. Putin,” Blinken said.