US and UK pledge almost $1.5 billion to help Ukraine during diplomats' visit to Kyiv

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The United States and Britain pledged nearly $1.5 billion in additional aid to Ukraine on Wednesday during a visit to Kyiv by their top diplomats as Ukrainian officials renewed their pleas to use Western-provided missiles against targets deeper inside Russia.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced more than $700 million in humanitarian aid, while British Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed that his country would provide another $782 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 traveled together to the Ukrainian capital on a rare joint tour to underscore their commitment to the country in its war. Air-raid sirens sounded repeatedly during the visit, causing delays in their schedule and forcing them to cancel a wreath-laying ceremony.

Blinken said he would bring the discussion with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the missiles “back to Washington to brief the president.” Blinken said U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will “no doubt” talk about the issue when they meet Friday in Washington.

“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 a news conference.

The diplomatic visit unfolded as Russia’s bigger and better-equipped army bears down on Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region and conducts aerial attacks on cities across the country using missiles, glide bombs and drones that claim many civilian casualties.

Lammy said the 2 1/2-year conflict is at a “critical” juncture following Ukraine's daring incursion last month into Russia’s Kursk region.

"We convey the deepest condolences for the shocking attacks that we have seen, over the loss of civilian life, particularly women and children — horrific, barbaric, unbelievable,” Lammy said.

But relations between Ukraine and its Western partners have been increasingly strained by Kyiv’s repeated appeals for the West’s authorization to use long-range weapons from the United States and other allies to strike targets deeper inside Russia.

That issue took on added urgency after Russia’s latest reported acquisition of ballistic missiles from Iran, but Western leaders have so far balked at Ukraine's request, fearing that, if granted, it could escalate the war.

Biden has allowed Ukraine to fire U.S.-provided missiles across the border into Russia in self-defense, 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 U.S. military and financial support is crucial.

“We rely heavily on it, and frankly, we can’t prevail without it,” Zelenskyy said.

However, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin last week pushed back on the idea that long-range strikes would be a game-changer.

“I don’t believe one capability is going to be decisive, and I stand by that comment,” Austin said at a meeting of allied military leaders in Germany. The Ukrainians have other means to strike long-range targets, he added.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told Lammy he hoped an agreement on using long-range assets “for strikes on the territory of our enemy” could be reached. “We hope for your help and support in this issue.”

A hard winter likely lies ahead for Ukraine. Its power grid is under severe strain after Russian missiles and drones knocked out around 70% of the country’s generation capacity.

Kyiv officials will also have to navigate the outcome of the U.S. election in November, which could produce important policy shifts in Washington. Former President Donald Trump said in a presidential debate Tuesday that he wants the war to end but did not clearly say he wants Ukraine to win.

“We remain committed to Ukraine’s victory,” Blinken said. “The bottom line is this: We want Ukraine to win.”

Ukrainian officials politely sidestepped making any comment on the debate. Zelenskyy said he did not watch it, while Ukraine's foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha‎, insisted U.S. policy was ultimately unlikely to change.

“Yes, it’s clear that there will be a new president. But we believe, and are convinced, in the strong support of the American people,” Sybiha said. “We are firmly, firmly convinced that this support will continue.”

The latest American aid package includes $325 million in energy support to help repair and restore Ukraine’s power generation facilities, provide emergency backup power for critical services and strengthen the physical security of energy infrastructure.

Some $290 million will fund food, water, shelter, health care and education programs for Ukrainians in need in the country and refugees outside the country. The remaining $102 million will be used for mine-removal work.

Late last week, the U.S. announced it would send $250 million more in weapons to Ukraine, including air-defense missiles and artillery.

Wednesday’s visit was, unusually, announced in advance — a public signal of American and British support for Ukraine.

The British diplomats reached the Ukrainian capital by train from Poland. Blinken traveled from London, where he accused Iran of providing Russia with Fath-360 short-range ballistic missiles, calling the move a “dramatic escalation” of the war.

Referring to those missiles, Shmyhal added: “Russia’s use of weapons from its terrorist allies to strike at Ukraine continues their genocidal war and terrorism on our territory. We must be able to respond to such terrorism in kind by destroying military targets on their territory to ensure greater safety for our citizens.”

Associated Press writers Jill Lawless in London and Derek Gatopoulos in Kyiv contributed to this report.

Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at the Cabinet of Ministers in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink attend an event to promote civil society engagement in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepares to meet U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy at the Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gestures during a meeting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy at the Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy speaks during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, right, Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriiy Sybiha, left, arrive to attend a joint news conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends a joint news conference with Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriiy Sybiha at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, speaks during a joint news conference with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriiy Sybiha and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, speaks during a joint news conference with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriiy Sybiha, left, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, greets Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriiy Sybiha at the end of a joint news conference with Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, right, looks across as Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriiy Sybiha speaks during a joint news conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a joint news conference with Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriiy Sybiha at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, speaks as he stands with Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriiy Sybiha, center, during a joint news conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, right, and Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriiy Sybiha attend a joint news conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends the Fourth Crimea Platform Leaders Summit in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (Leon Neal/Pool via AP)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at the Cabinet of Ministers in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy meet with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, speaks during a joint news conference with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriiy Sybiha and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a joint news conference with Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriiy Sybiha at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

On the podium from left, Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar Nariman Dzhelyal, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak, President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenkovic, and the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk attend the Fourth Crimea Platform Leaders Summit in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (Leon Neal/Pool via AP)

Front from left, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar Nariman Dzhelyal and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy attend the Fourth Crimea Platform Leaders Summit in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (Leon Neal/Pool via AP)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy arrive at the train station in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U. S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks with chef Yevhen Klopotenko as he visits a restaurant in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, listens as UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, right, speaks during the Fourth Crimea Platform Leaders Summit in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (Leon Neal/Pool via AP)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy arrive at the train station in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy meet with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriiy Sybiha at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy meet with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriiy Sybiha at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy meet with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriiy Sybiha at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy attends a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal (not pictured) and other officials Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024 in Kyiv, Ukraine. The British Foreign Secretary joined his American counterpart on a visit to Ukraine to discuss the country's military needs in its fight against Russia. (Leon Neal/Pool via AP)

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy attends a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal (not pictured) and other officials Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024 in Kyiv, Ukraine. The British Foreign Secretary joined his American counterpart on a visit to Ukraine to discuss the country's military needs in its fight against Russia. (Leon Neal/Pool via AP)

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy attends a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024 in Kyiv, Ukraine. The British Foreign Secretary joined his American counterpart on a visit to Ukraine to discuss the country's military needs in its fight against Russia. (Leon Neal/Pool via AP)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is greeted as he arrives at the train station in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, right. and US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken arrive at Kyiv train station Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024 in Kyiv, Ukraine. The British Foreign Secretary joined his American counterpart on a visit to Ukraine to discuss the country's military needs in its fight against Russia. (Leon Neal/Pool via AP)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy arrive at the train station in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy are greeted as they arrive at the train station in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy arrive at the train station in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, left, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken board a train at Przemysl train station in Poland Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024 as they prepare to travel to Ukraine. (Leon Neal/Pool Photo via AP)

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, front left, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken board a train at Przemysl train station in Poland Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024 as they prepare to travel to Ukraine. (Leon Neal/Pool Photo via AP)

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, front left, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken board a train at Przemysl train station in Poland Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024 as they prepare to travel to Ukraine. (Leon Neal/Pool Photo via AP)

KILIFI, Kenya (AP) — Dozens rallied against a proposal to build Kenya’s first nuclear power plant in one of the country’s top coastal tourist hubs which also houses a forest on the tentative list of the UNESCO World Heritage site.

Kilifi County is renowned for its pristine sandy beaches where hotels and beach bars line the 165-mile-long coast and visitors boat and snorkel around coral reefs or bird watch in Arabuko Sokoke forest, a significant natural habitat for the conservation of rare and endangered species, according to the U.N. organization.

The nuclear plant, proposed last year, is set to be built in the town of Kilifi — about 522 kilometers (324 miles) southeast of the capital, Nairobi. Many residents have openly opposed the proposal, worried about what they say are the negative effects of the project on people and the environment, leading to a string of protests which at times turned violent.

The Muslims for Human Rights group (MUHURI) took part in a march Friday in Kilifi to the county governor’s office where protesters handed him a petition opposing the construction of the plant.

Some chanted anti-nuclear slogans while others carried placards with “Sitaki nuclear”, Swahili for “I don’t want nuclear.”

The construction of the 1,000MW nuclear plant is set to begin in 2027 and be operational by 2034, at a cost of 500 billion Kenyan shillings ($3.8 billion).

Francis Auma, a MUHURI activist, told the Associated Press that the negative effects of the nuclear plant outweigh its benefits.

“We say that this project has a lot of negative effects; there will be malformed children born out of this place, fish will die, and our forest Arabuko Sokoke, known to harbor the birds from abroad, will be lost,” Auma said during Friday’s protests.

Juma Sulubu, a resident who was beaten by the police during a previous demonstration, attended Friday’s march and said: “Even if you kill us, just kill us, but we do not want a nuclear power plant in our Uyombo community.”

Timothy Nyawa, a fisherman, participated in the rally out of fear that a nuclear power plant would kill fish and in turn his source of income. “If they set up a nuclear plant here, the fish breeding sites will all be destroyed.”

Phyllis Omido, the executive director at the Centre for Justice Governance and Environmental Action, which organized the protest, said Kenya’s eastern coastal towns depended on eco-tourism as the main source of income and a nuclear plant would threaten their livelihoods.

“We host the only East African coastal forest, we host the Watamu marine park, we host the largest mangrove plantation in Kenya. We do not want nuclear (energy) to mess up our ecosystem,” she said.

Her center filed a petition in Nov. 2023 in parliament calling for an inquiry and claiming that locals had limited information on the proposed plant and the criteria for selecting preferred sites. It raised concerns over the risks to health, the environment and tourism in the event of a nuclear spill, saying the country was undertaking a “high-risk venture” without proper legal and disaster response measures in place. The petition also expressed unease over security and the handling of radioactive waste in a country prone to floods and drought.

The Senate suspended the inquiry until a lawsuit two lawyers filed in July was heard. The suit is seeking to stop the plant’s construction, claiming public participation meetings were rushed. It urges the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (Nupea) not to start the project.

Nupea said construction would not begin for years and environmental laws were under consideration, adding that adequate public participation was carried out.

The nuclear agency also published an impact assessment report last year that recommended policies be put in place to ensure environmental protections, including detailed plans for the handling of radioactive waste, measures to mitigate environmental harm, such as setting up a nuclear unit in the national environment management authority, and emergency response teams.

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Demonstrators hold banners reading in Swahili "Sitaki nuclear" (I don't want nuclear), during an anti-nuclear protest in Kilifi, Kenya Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris Obiero)