"We don't encourage or enable strikes into Russia from Ukraine, but ultimately it's up to Ukraine to make its own decisions about how to conduct this war," Blinken said at the end of a two-day visit to Kyiv. Russia has warned the West against any Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory with Western weapons and has called hostile those countries that have been supplying arms to Ukraine since the invasion in February 2022. Ukraine frequently strikes Russian territory, but it says it uses weapons produced by the country's defence industry, even if incorporating foreign technology. Blinken announced in Kyiv immediate aid to Ukraine of $2 billion (€1.8 billion, at current exchange rates). Most of the aid, $1.6 billion (€1.4 billion), comes from the $61 billion (€56.1 billion) package approved in April. The rest will be reprogrammed from different accounts, official sources told the US agency AP. Blinken explained that the fund will be used mainly to provide Ukraine with more weapons in the short term, through the acquisition of military equipment from the United States and other countries. The money will also finance investments to expand the capacity of the Ukrainian military industry to produce weapons, according to the Spanish agency EFE. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked Blinken on Tuesday to send two "Patriot" missile systems to defend Kharkiv, the target of a new Russian offensive since Friday. The operation has raised fears of a Russian advance against a Ukrainian army without resources and already under heavy pressure on the eastern and southern fronts. The Russian Defence Ministry today claimed to have taken two towns in the Kharkiv region (northeast) and one in the Zaporizhia region (south). Zelensky then ordered reinforcements to be sent to Kharkiv and cancelled all foreign commitments in the coming days, including planned trips to Spain and Portugal. Before leaving Kyiv, Blinken also criticised China for helping Russia to produce more tanks, armoured vehicles and missiles, by supplying Moscow with essential electronic components and parts. Blinken promised that the United States will continue to impose sanctions on Chinese companies responsible for supplies to Russia. "Our concern is not that China is providing weapons to Russia," Blinken said during a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, quoted by EFE. What worries Washington is "the support that China is giving to Russia to rebuild its defence industrial base in order to contribute and make a difference in the aggression against Ukraine," he added. Blinken's warning came on the eve of a two-day state visit to China by Russian President Vladimir Putin, to strengthen ties with the leader of the Asian superpower, Xi Jinping. Read Also: Marcelo diz que, por segurança, visita de Zelensky "nunca foi confirmada" (Portuguese version)