US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday for his third trip to the Ukrainian capital since the start of Russia’s invasion in February 2022. This visit comes as Ukraine’s counteroffensive moves into its fourth month, with both political and military leaders in Kyiv talking up recent gains, especially in the south of the country. Blinken’s first stop was at a military cemetery, where he laid a wreath in honor of Ukraine’s fallen soldiers. Later, he is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to receive a first-hand report on Ukraine’s efforts to regain land around the eastern city of Bakhmut.
The visit by Secretary Blinken is an opportunity for the United States and Ukraine to align ahead of the United Nations General Assembly later this month. A senior State Department official traveling with Blinken emphasized the importance of Ukraine’s mission in New York to explain what’s going on and their continued need for support. The official stated that it is crucial for the US to lead the global effort to support Ukraine and that consulting and aligning with Ukraine before the UNGA is essential.
While some US officials have been privately critical of Ukraine’s counteroffensive strategy, the official traveling with Blinken did not delve into specifics. However, the official stated that now is the right time to assess how the counteroffensive is going and to hear how Ukraine intends to push forward in the coming weeks. The US sees Ukraine making impressive advances in the south and east in recent days and weeks.
Blinken’s arrival in Kyiv comes less than a month after President Joe Biden asked Congress for more than $24 billion to help Ukraine defeat Russia in the ongoing war. This visit will help the administration make the case for continued support to the American people. The official reiterated an argument for supporting Ukraine, stating that it is about preventing dictators and autocrats from taking a piece of their neighbor and keeping it with impunity.
During the course of this visit, Blinken is expected to announce more than a billion dollars in new US funding for Ukraine, including new security assistance. However, the official did not comment on whether the new package of support would include depleted-uranium munitions. Secretary Blinken arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday morning after making an overnight journey by train from Poland, following the common practice of high-profile visitors to the war-torn city.
This is Secretary Blinken’s third visit to Kyiv since the start of Russia’s invasion. His previous visits took place in April 2022 and September 2022. According to the State Department, he also briefly went into Ukraine in March 2022, when he met on the border with Foreign Minister Kuleba. The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia remains a top priority for the US, and Blinken’s visit aims to show continued support for Ukraine’s efforts.
Original Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-09-06 09:11:00
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