The announcement comes as the country's two top diplomats visit Kyiv and after reports of shipments of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia.
ADVERTISEMENTThe United States and Britain pledged nearly €1.4 billion in additional aid to Ukraine on Wednesday.
During a visit to Kyiv by their top diplomats, Ukrainian officials renewed their pleas to use Western-provided missiles against targets deeper inside Russia.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced more than €635 million in humanitarian aid, while British Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed that his country would provide another €709 million in assistance and loan guarantees.
Much of the effort was aimed at bolstering the energy grid that Russia has repeatedly pounded ahead of an expected difficult winter.
Blinken and Lammy travelled together to the Ukrainian capital on a rare joint tour to underscore their commitment to the country in its war.
Blinken said he would bring the discussion with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the missiles “back to Washington to brief the president.”
“Speaking for the United States, we have adjusted and adapted as needs have changed, as the battlefield has changed. And I have no doubt that we’ll continue to do that as this evolves,” Blinken told at a news conference.
The diplomatic visit unfolded as Russia’s bigger and better-equipped army bears down on Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region and pounds the country with missiles, glide bombs and drones that claim many civilian casualties.
But relations between Ukraine and its Western partners have been increasingly strained by Kyiv’s repeated appeals for the West’s authorisation to use long-range weapons from the United States and other allies to strike targets deeper inside Russia.
That issue has become more urgent given Russia’s latest reported acquisition of ballistic missiles from Iran, but Western leaders have balked at the request, fearing that, if granted, it could escalate the war.
US President Joe Biden has allowed Ukraine to fire US-provided missiles across the border into Russia in self-defence, but has largely limited the distance they can be fired.
Zelenskyy said he hoped for changes to those limitations.
“Let’s count on some strong decisions, at least,” he said. “For us, it’s very important.”
He said he hoped to speak to Biden later this month, noting that US military and financial support is crucial.
“We rely heavily on it, and frankly, we can’t prevail without it,” Zelenskyy said.