US concerns are growing over the situation in Ukraine, while Russia criticizes US military support for Kiev.
Moscow has described US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent trip to Kiev as a sign of growing US alert over the deteriorating situation on the front lines. The interpretation in Moscow is that Washington is viewing Ukraine’s recent military failures with concern, as “Reuters” reports.
Blinken is the first senior US official to travel to Ukraine following the approval of the $61 billion military aid package. He emphasized that the USA would stand by Ukraine until its security and sovereignty were guaranteed.
As Reuters reports, Russian troops have advanced into Ukraine’s Kharkiv region in recent days, forcing Ukrainian troops to withdraw from several settlements. They are currently taking up positions on the streets of the city of Vovchansk, according to a local official.
Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, told a news conference in Moscow that US military support for Kiev would not benefit the country’s political leadership. “It is clear that the situation on the front lines and the military failures of the Ukrainian armed forces are causing increasing concern among the Biden administration,” Zakharova said. She further claimed that “no amount of weapons would save (President) Zelensky’s criminal regime from collapse” and warned that “all military equipment supplied to Ukraine will be destroyed.”