KYIV, Ukraine, Sept 12, (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. US 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.