US Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense went to Kyiv on Sunday, the first visit by US officials to Ukraine since the start of the war with Russia.
During their visit, Anthony Blinken and Lloyd Austin announced the gradual return of US diplomats to Ukraine, the appointment of a new US Ambassador to the country and provide additional assistance of more than $ 700 million.
The two US ministers traveled to Poland on Saturday and drove to Ukraine on Sunday, where met with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba and Defense Minister Olezi Reznikov.
For security reasons the visit took place with great secrecy and was confirmed by Washington only after Blinken and Austin had left Ukrainian territory.
However, Zelensky had already mentioned it on Saturday, while Ukrainian officials had confirmed the presence of the two American ministers in Kyiv yesterday.
During their meetings, the two US ministers announced the gradual return of the US diplomatic presence in Ukraine.
Blinken pointed out that US President Joe Biden is to appoint Bridget Brink as new US Ambassador to Ukraine in the coming dayscurrent ambassador to Slovakia.
The United States has not had an ambassador to Ukraine since 2019 and handles US diplomatic missions with authority.
The return of the US diplomatic presence in the country will be gradual.
«From the beginning of the hostilities we have a team in Poland, which does the job. From this week the members of the group will make daily trips inside Ukraine“, explained State Department official to reporters waiting for the two US ministers on the Polish side of the border.
Moreover the United States will increase its military assistance to Ukraine by releasing $ 700 million, of which about 300 million will help the Ukrainians to obtain from the market the weapons they needpointed out US officials.
The rest will go to Ukraine’s regional allies who have provided assistance to the country and who need to replenish their stockpiles of weapons.
Alongside, more than 50 Ukrainians are expected to complete their Howitzer training today, which Washington has begun sending to Kyiv, said John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesman.
Biden announced on Thursday that he would provide another $ 800 million aid package to Ukraine, mainly in the form of heavy weapons, which Zelensky is seeking to repel Russian attacks in the east of the country.
According to Washington, since the beginning of Biden’s term, the US has offered a total of more than $ 4 billion in military aid to Ukraine.
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