December 27, 2024

Blinken pushes support for Ukraine in NATO meeting

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — – For the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Ukrainian president put forward a possible deal that could end the fighting.

The proposal comes as world leaders prepare for a change in American policy on Ukraine under President-elect Donald Trump.

In the Ukrainian city of Ternopil, Russian strikes killed one and knocked out power to part of the city.

 “Putin is weaponizing winter. Trying to freeze people out of their homes. Turn out the lights,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

In Brussels, Secretary of State Antony Blinken pushed NATO leaders to continue support for Ukraine as the U.S. prepares to inaugurate President-elect Donald Trump, who is skeptical of U.S. support to both Ukraine and NATO.

 “You’ve got us until the 20th of January. Every minute, every day,” said Blinken.

Trump has criticized the Biden administration for sending billions to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion.  The State Department says the U.S. has sent $61 billion in military aid to Kyiv.

“We have to do everything we can to get more military aid into Ukraine,” said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

For the first time since Russia’s invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated he would be open to giving up land to stop the fighting.

Zelenskyy says he would be willing to give up land Russia controls if NATO membership applied to the parts of Ukraine not under Russian control.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was noncommittal about the possibility.

“We have to make sure Ukraine gets into a position of strength. And then it should be the Ukrainian government to decide on the next steps,” said Rutte.

At the Vatican this week the pope called for an end to the war in Ukraine saying, “Children, women, the elderly and the weak are its first victims.”

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