Since February 2022, this is Antony Blinken’s fourth visit to Kyiv. Barely arrived, the American Secretary of State announced new aid from the United States to Ukraine of nearly a billion dollars and the delivery of depleted uranium ammunition. Controversial ammunition as they can be dangerous for the military and the populations, Moscow denouncing the “inhumanity” of Washington.
After an explosion in a market in eastern Ukraine yesterday that left 17 dead, drones sent by kyiv were shot down near Moscow early Thursday morning, September 7.
US to supply controversial ammunition to kyiv, Moscow denounces Washington’s inhumanity
Supplying depleted uranium ammunition to Kiev, included in additional $1 billion in aid announced by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, shows Washington’s “inhumanity”, Moscow blasted overnight Wednesday to Thursday. Visiting Kiev, Antony Blinken unveiled a new aid of one billion dollars to Ukraine, the Pentagon revealing from Washington a component providing for the supply of 120 mm depleted uranium ammunition intended for the American Abrams tanks promised to Kiev.
These, capable of piercing armor, are controversial because of the toxic risks for the military and the population. On the night of Wednesday to Thursday, the Russian Embassy in Washington condemned this decision which, according to it, is “a clear sign of the inhumanity” of the United States. “Progress in the ongoing (Ukrainian army) counter-offensive has accelerated in recent weeks and this new aid will help give it new impetus,” said Antony Blinken, whose fourth visit to Ukraine since the beginning, in February 2022, of the Russian invasion.
Ukrainian drones shot down near Moscow on Thursday morning
Ukrainian drones were shot down near the Russian capital and in the south of the country on Thursday morning, Russian news agency RIA reported, citing the Defense Ministry. A drone was shot down near Moscow and two others near Rostov-on-Don, RIA said.
Chinese, Russian and American leaders meet at ASEAN summit
US Vice President Kamala Harris, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are meeting in Jakarta at the East Asia Summit on Thursday, a rare opportunity for rival nations to have diplomatic exchanges. The 18-nation meeting in the Indonesian capital brings top officials from Washington and Beijing to the same table, a day after Prime Minister Li Qiang warned that major powers must contain their differences to avoid a “new Cold War”. “.
Thursday’s summit will also be the first opportunity for senior US and Russian officials to meet, nearly two months after a previous tense ASEAN meeting in July in Jakarta at which Westerners held Sergei Lavrov to account over the invasion of Ukraine. They will be joined by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Canadian Justin Trudeau and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, as well as leaders of the Association of Nations of Southeast Asia (ASEAN).
Ukraine: new American aid of more than a billion dollars
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on a surprise visit to Kiev, announced on Wednesday new aid from his country to Ukraine “totalling more than a billion dollars” to give “momentum” to the counter- offensive against Russia. “The United States is committed to empowering Ukraine to write its own future […]. Today we are announcing new aid totaling more than $1 billion,” he said. Hailing the “counteroffensive progress” that has “accelerated” in recent weeks, he said in press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart that this boost “will help give him a new impetus”. “This includes $665.5 million in new military aid and for civil security”, he added, then that US aid since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022 totals more than $40 billion.
For his part, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kouleba recalled that this support “is not charity”, Ukraine “bringing down Russian aggression thanks to its partners” without putting “any American life in danger”. . “We will never call for the deployment of American troops in Ukraine,” he said, also wishing to “separately thank” Washington “for the decision to allow other countries to transfer” F-16s.
EU and White House condemn latest Russian ‘brutal attacks’ on Ukraine
The White House on Wednesday condemned Russia’s latest “brutal attacks” on Ukraine, including a strike on a market in the east of the country that killed at least 17 people. “These brutal attacks by Russia underscore the need to continue to support the people of Ukraine in defending their territory,” said President Joe Biden’s spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre.
For its part, the European Union condemned a “barbaric” and “hateful” attack led by Russia. “Russia continues to terrorize the civilian population in Ukraine,” an EU spokesperson said in a statement. “Intentional attacks against civilians are war crimes. All the orderers, perpetrators and accomplices of these atrocities will be held to account.”
UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine Denise Brown condemned the “despicable attack” on Wednesday. “The despicable attack a few hours ago hit a busy market in Kostiantynivka, killing and injuring dozens of adults and children in this war-torn community,” she wrote in a statement. saying “upset”.