U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Ukraine on Tuesday on an unannounced diplomatic mission aimed at reassuring the country in its war with Russia.
The U.S. State Department said Secretary Blinken would meet with senior Ukrainian officials after arriving in Kiev and “emphasize America’s continued support for Ukraine.” In the Ukrainian capital, he will also highlight the Biden administration's commitment to Ukraine's defense and assure Ukraine that it has U.S. support against increasingly aggressive Russian attacks.
The State Department said in a statement following Blinken's arrival that he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmihal and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba “to discuss battlefield updates, the impact of new U.S. security and economic assistance, and long-term security.” “We will discuss it,” he said. “We have other commitments and ongoing efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s economic recovery.”
“He will emphasize America’s commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and democracy in the face of Russia’s continued aggression,” the statement added.
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Blinken's visit comes less than a month after Congress approved a long-delayed foreign aid package that establishes $60 billion in aid for Ukraine. Most of the support will be used to replenish severely depleted artillery and air defense systems.
Tuesday marks Blinken's fourth visit to Kiev since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Despite his frequent visits to the region, Kiev and Moscow are no closer to ending the fighting.
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The unannounced visit came after a White House briefing on Monday, where National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the new aid package actually seeks to speed up U.S. arms shipments to Ukraine.
“What I’m suggesting is that the level of intensity that’s being shown right now in terms of moving things is a 10 out of 10,” Sullivan told reporters.
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President Biden signed the aid package late last month, and the administration has already announced $1.4 billion in short-term military assistance and $6 billion in long-term support.
Blinken's last trip to Kiev was in September.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.