Ukraine’s president lauds ‘crucial’ US aid as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Kyiv in a surprise visit.
Published On 14 May 202414 May 2024
Blinken’s visit is his fourth since Russia began its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
- He was last in the country in September last year.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Kyiv in a surprise diplomatic visit designed to underline the United States’s support for Ukraine as it battles to push back Russian troops who have opened a new front line in the northeastern Kharkiv region.
The trip is the first by a senior US official since Congress passed a long-delayed $61bn military aid package for the country last month, and amid concerns that the US government has been preoccupied with Israel’s war on Gaza.
The trip is the first by a senior US official since Congress passed a long-delayed $61bn military aid package for the country last month, and amid concerns that the US government has been preoccupied with Israel’s war on Gaza.
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Blinken, who arrived in Kyiv by train early on Tuesday morning, met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and promised the US aid would make “a real difference against the Russian aggression on the battlefield”.
“The assistance is now on the way, some of it has already arrived and more of it will be arriving,” said Blinken, adding that the US was “determined that over time, Ukraine stands strongly on its own feet: militarily, economically, democratically”.
“A strong, successful, thriving, free Ukraine is the best possible rebuke to [Russia’s President Vladimir] Putin,” he said.
“The assistance is now on the way, some of it has already arrived and more of it will be arriving,” said Blinken, adding that the US was “determined that over time, Ukraine stands strongly on its own feet: militarily, economically, democratically”.
“A strong, successful, thriving, free Ukraine is the best possible rebuke to [Russia’s President Vladimir] Putin,” he said.
On his part, Zelenskyy lauded the “crucial” US aid, stressing the country’s biggest deficit – air defense.
- He told Blinken that Ukraine needs two air defence batteries for the northeastern city of Kharkiv, being pummelled by Russian air strikes.
“The delay put Ukraine in a hole and we’re trying to help them dig out of that hole as rapidly as possible,” Sullivan said, adding that a new package of weapons was going to be announced this week.
Blinken Arrives In Ukraine On Unannounced Visit
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Ukraine late on May 13 for meetings with senior Ukrainian officials and to reaffirm Washington’s support for Ukraine. "I returned to Kyiv today to demonstrate our unwavering support for Ukraine as they defend their freedom against Russian aggression," Blinken said on X, formerly Twitter.
Blinken is due to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
Blinken and the Ukrainian leadership are to discuss
- "battlefield updates,
- the impact of new U.S. security and economic assistance,
- long-term security and other commitments," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
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