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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has hit out at Vladimir Putin while assuring Ukraine that the country still has the support of the US.<\/p>\n
Speaking after a meeting with NATO allies on Wednesday, Mr Blinken said: “We focused on NATO’s enduring support for Ukraine, I have to tell you all of our colleagues around the table, every single one, expressed strong and enduring support for Ukraine.<\/p>\n
“Some are questioning whether the US and other Western allies should continue to stand with Ukraine as we enter the second winter of Putin’s brutality.<\/p>\n
“The answer here today at NATO is clear and unwavering. We must and we will continue to support Ukraine. Ensuring that Russia’s war of aggression remains a strategic failure is as vital today as it was when the Kremlin launched that war almost two years ago.”<\/p>\n
Mr Blinken’s comments come as many Republicans in the US call for Washington to end its military funding for Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Speaking this week, NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg made similar remarks regarding Ukraine.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cIt\u2019s our obligation to ensure that we provide Ukraine with the weapons they need, because it will be a tragedy for Ukrainians if President Putin wins. It will also be dangerous for us.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe challenge now is that we need to sustain the support. We just have to stay the course.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is likely that US President Joe Biden will face off against Donald Trump once again in 2024’s election.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Trump has previously said he could end the war “in 24 hours”, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently said Trump “can’t bring peace” because of Putin.<\/p>\n Inviting Trump to Kyiv, Zelensky said: \u201cIf he can come here, I will need 24 minutes \u2013 yes, 24 minutes\u2026 to explain (to) President Trump that he can\u2019t manage this war. He can\u2019t bring peace because of Putin.<\/p>\n On the state of the war, Zelensky added: \u201cWe hold the initiative in our hands. You can imagine what a full-scale war or what two years of a full-scale war is like.<\/p>\n “Everybody gets tired. Even the iron gets tired. But, nevertheless, I am proud of our warriors and of our people, that they are strong\u2026 Our people have a strong desire to win.”<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/78\/590x\/secondary\/Trump-said-he-could-end-the-war-in-24-hours-5091266.jpg?r=1701260993020\")
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