U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated on Wednesday that the U.S. could tolerate Ukraine using Western weapons against military targets in Russia.
During a news conference in Moldova, Blinken said that the U.S. government had neither enabled nor encouraged attacks with U.S. weapons on targets outside Ukraine.
He, however, said that Ukrainians needed to make their own decision on how they could effectively defend themselves.
Blinken emphasised that a key aspect of U.S. support for Ukraine had been the ability to adjust to changing conditions and battlefields, as well as to Russia’s actions.
“In every step along the way we have adapted and adjusted as necessary, that is exactly what we do going forward,’’ said Blinken.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago, the U.S. has provided military aid to Ukraine.
He urged them to not use U.S.-made weapons to fire into Russian territory to avoid escalating the conflict.
The U.S. government has not officially changed its position.
According to U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, the U.S. had already adapted its support to the needs of Ukraine.
Recently French President Emmanuel Macron spoke out in favour of allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons to attack Russian positions on Russian territory.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is also pushing for the lifting of restrictions. (dpa/NAN)
Ebonyi spends N17.3bn on airport runway
Ebonyi State Government on Wednesday said it spent N17.3 billion on remedial work at the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport runway in Abakaliki.
Gov. Francis Nwifuru said this in Abakaliki on the occasion of his one anniversary in Abakaliki.
Nwifuru said on assumption of office his administration cleared the backlog arrears of five months salaries owed airport workers.
“The remedial work at the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport runway has been completed.
“N17.3 billion was spent, while major repairs in the terminal building and control tower have commenced in earnest and in advanced stage.
“To this end, flight operations will commence fully at the airport,” the governor said.
Nwifuru said his administration had taken deliberate steps to improve the security architecture of the state within his one year in office.
He said that security was very central to any development effort and successful implementation of his administration’s programmes and policies.
The governor said his administration had also completed some roads in this first year in the office.
“This is further to our determination to grow our rural economies by ensuring agro-allied produces are transported to the urban centres,” he said.
Nwifuru listed some of the rural roads started and completed to include, Umuoghara Power Station road, Legacy FM road on concrete pavement and Obvuduechi market-lziogo road.
According to the governor, his administration was focused on creating enabling environment for a public-private sector partnership, which he said was critical to the economic growth of the state. (NAN)