WASHINGTON: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken disclosed on Saturday that the United States had proactively sent weapons to Ukraine as early as five months before the conflict began. This revelation highlights the strategic foresight by the U.S. to aid Ukraine in anticipation of rising hostilities.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Blinken stated in an interview with The New York Times that the United States had been sending billions of dollars in weapons to Ukraine since September 2021. The initiative was part of a broader strategy to ensure Ukraine was adequately prepared for potential conflict. Blinken remarked, “We saw it coming,” underscoring the preemptive measures taken by the U.S. to bolster Ukraine’s defenses.
Blinken emphasized the importance of ensuring that Ukraine not only received the weapons but also possessed the capability to use and maintain them effectively. When questioned about the possibility of ending the conflict, Blinken expressed caution, suggesting that a cease-fire could potentially benefit Russia unless it guaranteed Ukraine could deter further aggression. He noted that NATO membership could be a viable solution to ensure such deterrence.
In response to Blinken’s remarks, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova reiterated Russia’s longstanding concerns. She stated that the U.S. and Britain’s arms shipments to Ukraine, coupled with NATO exercises in the Black Sea, justified Russia’s objective to demilitarize Ukraine. Zakharova highlighted issues such as the proximity of Western military aircraft to Russian airspace, which she claimed posed risks to civilian airliners.
The Kremlin has consistently criticized Western arms deliveries to Ukraine, arguing that they exacerbate the conflict and hinder peace efforts. The Russian government contends that these actions could lead to the involvement of NATO members in the ongoing conflict.
The U.S. Department of State reported that, as of Monday, the United States has provided Ukraine with $61.4 billion in military assistance since the conflict began. This aid includes over 12,000 anti-armor systems, more than 1,550 anti-air missiles, and various other military equipment such as radars, night vision devices, machine guns, rifles, ammunition, and body armor.
