Verification within Meta’s Third-Party Fact-Checking Program
Social media users, citing an interview with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken for The New York Times, claim that arms supplies to Ukraine starting in September 2021 were intended to prepare the country for aggression against Russia.
This is manipulation. The transfer of weapons to Ukraine in 2021 was aimed at strengthening its defense capabilities in response to the growing threat of a full-scale Russian invasion.
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In his interview with The New York Times, published on January 4, 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken commented on the Biden administration’s steps to support Ukraine.
Blinken specifically evaluated the aid provided to Ukraine before the full-scale invasion: “We made sure that well before the Russian aggression happened, starting in September and then again December, we quietly got a lot of weapons to Ukraine to make sure that they had in hand what they needed to defend themselves, things like Stingers, Javelins that were instrumental in preventing Russia from taking Kyiv, from rolling over the country, erasing it from the map, and indeed pushing the Russians back.”
Thus, the transfer of weapons was defensive in nature and a response to the threat of a Russian invasion. In spring 2021, Russia amassed approximately 100,000–120,000 troops and heavy equipment near Ukraine’s borders. In January 2022, Blinken stated that the buildup of Russian forces near Ukraine was evidence of a real threat, necessitating the strengthening of Ukraine’s defense capabilities. The aid provided to Ukraine in 2021 included only defensive equipment: anti-tank systems, small arms, ammunition, radios, and medical equipment. Heavy equipment required for offensive operations was not supplied to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia amassed armored vehicles, pontoon bridges, and other equipment clearly indicative of its intent to launch an offensive.
Moreover, the transfer of arms to Ukraine was not secretive. Both Ukrainian and international media openly reported it. In September 2021, Ukraine and the U.S. signed a Framework Agreement on the Strategic Foundations of Defense Partnership. This agreement was officially published and announced a new $60 million aid package aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s ability to resist Russian aggression. Overall, U.S. security assistance to Ukraine in 2021 amounted to $650 million.
Previously, we debunked the false claim that Ukraine planned to attack the so-called “DPR” first and advance to Russia’s borders before the full-scale war.
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