US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in the U.K. to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, in the wake of a significant drone attack launched by Kyiv in Moscow.
What Happened: Blinken is scheduled to meet with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy in London. The talks will focus on Ukraine’s war against Russia, the Middle East conflict, the Indo-Pacific region, and the AUKUS defense pact, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
The visit comes amid denials from a senior Iranian official about supplying Russia with ballistic missiles, a claim that the European Union spokesperson described as “credible.” This follows reports from CNN and the Wall Street Journal that Iran had transferred short-range ballistic missiles to Russia.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has initiated a major drone attack on Moscow, leading to destruction and casualties. This bold move is in line with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy‘s ongoing efforts to acquire more long-range missiles and the removal of restrictions on their use from Western nations.
Blinken’s visit also coincides with Britain’s suspension of some arms export licenses with Israel. During his stay, Blinken and Lammy will kickstart a U.K.-U.S. Strategic Dialogue aimed at reinforcing ties and addressing global priorities.
Why It Matters: The U.S. has been a significant supporter of Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia, having pledged $1.7 billion in military aid to Ukraine, including a variety of munitions and support for air defense systems.
Ukraine has been under heavy attack from Russia, with President Zelenskyy condemning one of the largest assaults, in which "more than a hundred" missiles and drones targeted critical civilian infrastructure. The ballistic missiles Russia uses are reportedly from North Korea, Zelenskyy claimed.
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This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari
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