After Congress passed the$ 95 billion international aid package in April, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and said “assistance is now on the way.”
Blinken is in Kyiv to “highlight the United States ‘ ongoing support for Ukraine,” according to the State Department on Tuesday after the overnight train’s arrival by the country ‘s , which is required for diplomatic travel because it is still possible to fly directly to Ukraine.
The two-day trip is the first made by an American government official since April when Congress authorized the$ 95 billion foreign aid package, which pledges$ 61 billion to Ukraine. Zelensky told Blinken and other reporters at the conference that the Russian president wanted the most out of the United States, and that the latter he called the “biggest deficit.”
Zelensky thanked Blinken but quickly made additional requirements and stated,” Truly we need two Republicans now for Kharkiv, for the Kharkiv area because there the persons are being attacked. Citizens, soldiers, everyone they are under Russian weapons”.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives by station at Kyiv- Pasazhyrskyi train May 14, 2024, in Kyiv, Ukraine. As Russia continues to crush the northeastern Kharkiv location, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced visit to Kyiv on Tuesday night to comfort Ukrainians that the US will continue to support and help the circulation of weapons. ( Photo by Brendan Smialowski / POOL / AFP ) ( Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images )
On a station bound for Kiev, Ukraine, on May 13, 2024, near Lviv, Ukraine, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken works. ( Photo by Brendan Smialowski / POOL / AFP ) ( Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images )
According to Kyiv, Russian troops are heavily attacking Eastern Ukraine and the Kharkiv region, with the following city, Kharkiv, experiencing sustained airstrikes. About this conflict and new weapons donations from the West, a Blinken official told Agence France-Presse:” Russia is evidently, evidently throwing everything they have in the south and expanding the fighting to Kharkiv… But we have a lot of confidence that the Ukrainians will significantly be efficient in pushing the Russians up as our assistance comes both from the United States and from other allies and partners.”
Blinken, for his portion said:” We know this is a difficult time. However, we also know that the guidance is already on the way, with some of it now there and more coming soon, and that will significantly reduce Russian aggression on the ground, according to Reuters.
The State Department itself outlined the purpose for Blinken’s visit, saying of his engagements:” to explore battlefield updates, the impact of fresh U. S. security and economic assistance, lengthy- term security and additional commitments, and continued work to bolster Ukraine’s financial recovery. He will emphasize America’s commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and democracy in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression”.
Blinken is also programmed to address how the United States and other Allies and Partners will assist Ukraine in achieving its goal of building a free, prosperous, and secure democracy that is fully integrated into Europe and the Transatlantic Alliance, again hints at America’s desire to induct Ukraine into the NATO alliance.
