The head of US diplomacy, Antony Blinken, arrived in Kiev on Wednesday for a surprise visit, which should see new aid to the country to deal with the Russian invasion.
“We expect the Secretary of State to announce more than $1 billion [931 milhões de euros, ao câmbio atual] in new US funds for Ukraine”a senior State Department official told reporters.
It is Blinken’s fourth visit to the country since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022.
After arriving in Kiev, Blinken laid a wreath at the Berkovetske cemetery in honor of Ukrainian soldiers who died in the war, according to the US agency AP.
Blinken is expected to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to discuss the ongoing counter-offensive and reconstruction efforts.
Washington will continue its efforts to ensure that the Ukrainians “have what they need for this phase of the battle,” said the Foreign Ministry source quoted by the French agency AFP, provided he is not named. is called.
It is equipment “to break through the defense lines of the Russians,” he said, admitting that air defense “remains a high priority.”
Since June, Ukraine has been conducting a counter-offensive against Russian forces, which occupy almost 20% of Ukrainian territory in the south and east.
Kiev admitted that the counter-offensive was slow to start, but Zelensky denounced foreign criticism of modest progress.
The United States has claimed in recent days that Ukrainian forces have made significant progress in recent weeks in the south, but also in the east.
Blinken’s visit will allow “to get a real picture of the Ukrainians themselves,” the same official source in Washington added.
Blinken will spend the night in the Ukrainian capital for the first time since his visit to Kiev in January 2022, before the invasion, the AP reported.
The decision by the secretary of state is intended to send a symbolic signal of US support for Ukraine, according to Washington officials.
Source: DN
