On 7 August, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba about “developments in Ukraine’s counteroffensive efforts, recent conversations about a just and durable peace in Ukraine held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and long-term security arrangements between the two countries,” according to a readout from spokesperson Matt Miller, as reported by CNN.
The readout says Blinken “reiterated the United States’ staunch and ongoing support of Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s aggression and reaffirmed continued support of a strong Ukrainian military and accountable defense institutions.”
In his tweet about the conversation, Kuleba wrote that he emphasized Ukraine’s need for long-range missiles.
ATACMS are long-range munitions for HIMARS rocket launchers. Ukraine received HIMARS last year but has been provided only short-range GMLRS rockets. Previously, US President Joe Biden mentioned that providing Ukraine with ATACMS was “still in play.”
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