The partnership between the United States and the United Kingdom to support Ukraine against Russia's invasion "has never been stronger," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated recently.
"Together, we’re united against Russia’s unprovoked, unjustifiable, and horrific invasion of Ukraine," Blinken posted on Twitter Jan. 17, shortly after attending a press conference with U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.
Blinken and Cleverly discussed the two countries' commitment to help Ukraine defend against Russian attacks such as the Jan. 16 missile strike on an apartment building that killed at least 18 people in Dnipro, a city "far from the front lines," Blinken said in a transcript of the meeting released by the Department of State (DOS).
"The senseless attack was launched from a missile designed to sink ships and killed dozens of people, wounded scores more," Blinken said. "The youngest was just three years old."
Blinken spoke also to the U.S. and U.K.'s heightened humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, particularly as Russian President Vladimir Putin "continues to weaponize winter by attacking Ukraine’s electricity grid. Through the G7, we’re working with the United Kingdom and other partners to help Ukraine repair, restore, and defend that grid," Blinken said, according to the transcript.
Blinken said the U.S. hailed the U.K.'s announcement it will send Challenger 2 next-generation battle tanks and other artillery systems to Ukraine, "elements that will continue to reinforce and add to what the United States has provided."
"The contributions that we are making in the U.K., both in terms of equipment and training, we do so standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the United States of America," Cleverly said, according to the transcript.
"From the onset of this crisis, Britain and America have worked hand-in-glove to help our Ukrainian friends defend their homeland against Putin’s aggression," Cleverly said.
