Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken suggested Wednesday that the Biden administration might tolerate attacks by Ukrainian forces inside Russia, saying the United States would “adapt and adjust” its position as conditions on the battlefield change.
Blinken said the United States does not encourage or condone such attacks, but that Ukraine needs to decide for itself how best to defend itself — a position he has expressed previously — and that Washington has “adapted and adjusted as needed” as the war unfolds.
When asked by a reporter whether his comments meant the United States could support an attack by Ukraine on Russian soil, he replied, “That's exactly what it means to adapt and adjust.”
Since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Washington has sent military aid to Ukraine but has repeatedly urged it not to fire U.S.-made weapons into Russian territory for fear of escalating the war.
European leaders, including NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and French President Emmanuel Macron, have urged Biden to stop imposing such restrictions.
Blinken made the remarks in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, standing next to the country's President Maia Sandu, who is seeking re-election in October against a pro-Russian candidate. The two men spoke to reporters after an afternoon meeting at the presidential palace.
“Our neighbors and friends in Ukraine are paying an exorbitant price every day,” Sandu said.
Blinken announced new aid for Moldova to address a range of issues arising from Russian aggression, including its invasion of Ukraine.
The first of the two packages mentioned was $50 million in broad support for Moldova's industry, government and democratic process, with Blinken citing the energy and agriculture sectors, as well as the need to combat disinformation.
“Our deeply rooted commitment to democracy in the face of intimidation from Russia is very strong here,” Blinken said.
Sandu thanked Blinken for U.S. assistance in fighting corruption, building renewable energy infrastructure and addressing “adversities for democracy,” a reference to Russian election interference.
The second aid package mentioned was $85 million in assistance to boost Moldova's energy resilience and reduce its reliance on electricity generated in the Russian-backed eastern separatist region of Transnistria. The assistance will help shore up Moldova's energy needs, including through battery storage capacity and high-voltage transmission lines, Blinken said.
Moldova recently ended its reliance on natural gas imports from Russia and now buys gas from a number of countries, including the United States.
Blinken's visit to Chisinau was the first stop on a trip aimed at demonstrating U.S. support for countries facing a hostile Russia. Blinken will next travel to the Czech Republic, where he will attend meetings of foreign ministers and senior NATO officials on Thursday and Friday, as they discuss how to best support Ukraine.
The visit follows Blinken's overnight visit to Kyiv more than two weeks ago.
Sandu has pushed for Moldova to join the European Union and is planning a referendum on the issue on the same day as the presidential election in October.
U.S. and European analysts say Moscow is likely to try to meddle in the election, as it has done elsewhere in Europe, and the Biden administration has publicly accused Russian agents of meddling using a range of means, from hacking to directing election campaigns through social networks to funding favored politicians.
About 1,500 Russian troops are stationed in Transnistria, which borders Ukraine, and U.S. officials are closely watching for signs that Russian President Vladimir V. Putin might try to annex the region.
The NATO meeting in the Czech Republic is officially aimed at solidifying the agenda for an 80th anniversary meeting of alliance leaders in Washington in July. The meeting is not expected to declare Ukraine's desire to join NATO, a goal reiterated by President Zelensky after Russia's invasion, but is expected to work out details to move Ukraine through the membership process.
As Russian forces press forward on Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, Ukraine's war effort is stalling, mainly due to a shortage of weapons and ammunition, and a dwindling number of citizens available to fight.
Biden recently signed a bill authorizing new military aid to Ukraine, which was passed by Congress despite opposition from some Republicans.
Russia is rapidly producing military equipment, and U.S.-led sanctions have not been successful in weakening Russia's military industrial capabilities. Biden and his aides say China has played a crucial role in strengthening Russia's arms production through exports of dual-use equipment and other products. Blinken is expected to highlight China's support for Russia in discussions at the NATO summit in Prague.
