(AURN News) — The White House has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukraine's air defense capabilities this week, while stopping short of agreeing to lift restrictions on the use of U.S.-supplied missiles following recent Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

“Ukrainian officials report that this outrageous attack resulted in the deaths of Ukrainian civilians and targeted more than two dozen critical energy sites. I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, Russia’s continued war against Ukraine and its efforts to plunge the Ukrainian people into darkness. Let me be clear: Russia will never succeed in Ukraine, and the spirit of the Ukrainian people will never be broken,” President Joe Biden said Monday in a statement. 

National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby condemned the assaults, describing them as "a classic play out of the playbook for Vladimir Putin" aimed at disrupting heat and power supplies as colder weather approaches. 

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s continued war against Ukraine and its efforts to plunge the Ukrainian people into darkness as the fall here sits upon us and as winter approaches. As the President has said, Russia will never succeed in Ukraine, and the spirit of the Ukrainian people will never be broken,” Kirby told the press. “We’re focused on looking at interceptors and air defense systems, not just from the United States, but from allies and partners," Kirby said. 

However, when pressed on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's renewed calls for the West to lift restrictions on missile use, Kirby held firm. “As for our policies with respect to how U.S. weapons are used in Ukraine, I have no changes to those guidelines to speak to today," he stated.

The White House advisor acknowledged Zelenskyy's long-standing desire for expanded capabilities but insisted that such discussions would remain private. 

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