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Kyiv's day of visits, weapons and warnings
Summary
A look back at 19 January 2022, when the US Secretary of State arrived in Kyiv as British arms flights continued and Russia and its neighbours traded warnings.
What did allies of Ukraine signal to Moscow on 19 January 2022? The answer came in several forms: a high-level visit, continuing arms deliveries and public warnings from Washington and the Baltic region.
A visit to Kyiv
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Kyiv on 19 January 2022 in a show of support for Ukraine. During a one-day visit he was due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. A day earlier, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had said that Russia could launch an attack on Ukraine at any point and that no option was off the table.
Biden on the price of invasion
US President Joe Biden said on the same day that a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine would bring a more severe penalty than a "minor incursion". He also predicted that Russian President Vladimir Putin would move in on Ukraine, saying he had to do something.
British weapons and Russian protest
The United Kingdom's Royal Air Force continued flights to Ukraine on 19 January, delivering what were described as thousands of MBT LAW anti-tank missiles to the Ukrainian military. Russia accused Britain of fuelling the crisis by sending lethal weapons to Ukraine.
The deliveries followed an announcement on 17 January by Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace that the UK had begun supplying anti-tank guided missiles to Ukraine. A small number of British military personnel were also to be deployed to help train Ukrainian troops. The same day, Royal Air Force C-17 transport aircraft arrived in Ukraine carrying light anti-armour weapons as part of British military support.
Canada and Lithuania
Also on 17 January, Canada deployed a small contingent of special forces to Ukraine as part of a NATO response meant to deter Russian aggression. The unit was also tasked with evacuating diplomatic personnel from the Canadian embassy in Kyiv in the event of a full-scale invasion.
In the region, Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas warned on 19 January that the presence of Russian troops in Belarus posed a direct threat to Lithuania.
The picture on 19 January
Taken together, the day's developments showed Western governments pairing diplomacy with military supplies and public warnings, while Russia publicly criticised the British arms deliveries. Neighbouring states were also voicing concern about Russian troop positions beyond Ukraine's borders.
