US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in kyiv after traveling overnight by train from Poland.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in kyiv as part of a surprise diplomatic visit intended to highlight US support for Ukraine as it struggles to repel Russian troops who have opened a new front line in the country. northeastern region of Kharkiv.
The trip is the first by a senior U.S. official since Congress passed a Long-delayed $61 billion military aid package for the country last month, and amid fears that the US government was preoccupied with Israel’s war on Gaza.
Blinken, who arrived in kyiv by train early Tuesday morning, hoped to “send a strong signal of reassurance to the Ukrainians who are clearly in a very difficult time,” said a U.S. official who briefed journalists traveling with Blinken on condition of anonymity. .
Blinken will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other senior Ukrainian officials “to discuss battlefield updates, the impact of new U.S. economic and security assistance, long-term security and other commitments, as well as ongoing work to support Ukraine’s economic recovery,” the State Department said. in a report.
This is his fourth visit to kyiv from Russia began its large-scale invasion in February 2022. He was last in the country in September last year.
Blinken’s arrival coincides with a new Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region and on the eastern front line, which seeks to take advantage of Ukraine’s weaknesses in munitions and manpower.
On Monday, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington was trying to accelerate “the pace of deliveries” of weapons to Ukraine and reverse the disadvantage resulting from Congress sitting for months on the aid plan.
“This delay has put Ukraine in a hole and we are trying to help them get out of that hole as quickly as possible,” Sullivan said, adding that a new arms package would be announced this week.
Artillery, air defense interceptors and long-range ballistic missiles have already been delivered, some of them to the front lines, said the U.S. official traveling with Blinken.
Russia occupies about 18 percent of Ukraine’s territory.
It launched a new offensive in the Kharkiv region on Friday, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people.