In a gesture of ongoing commitment from the Biden administration, Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Kyiv on Wednesday, confirming the nation’s unwavering support for Ukraine.
He is set to promise more than $1 billion in American assistance, highlighting Washington’s dedication amidst an 18-month-long conflict with Russia, The Associated Press reports.
The new funding is expected to cover “a range” of investments, according to a high-level State Department source who chose to remain anonymous.
The specifics of the investments have not been detailed further.
His visit was aimed at evaluating Ukraine’s 3-month counteroffensive against Russian forces.
The pushback has been a matter of concern among certain Western allies, given the slow pace of Ukraine’s advances.
During his stay, Blinken is scheduled to engage in talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other senior officials.
The discussions are set to revolve around the ongoing military operations and measures for national reconstruction.
Highlighting the core purpose of his visit, Blinken stated, “We want to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs, not only to succeed in the counteroffensive but has what it needs for the long-term, to make sure that it has a strong deterrent.”
He further emphasized the U.S.’s commitment, adding, “We’re also determined to continue to work with our partners as they build and rebuild a strong economy, strong democracy.”
Ukraine’s beleaguered economy and infrastructure, particularly its energy networks that suffered significant damages last winter, are also on the agenda.
This builds on the earlier promise made by Blinken in London in June, where he announced a package of $1.3 billion to support Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts.
Responding to the Biden admin’s support for Ukraine, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov remarked that such assistance “can’t influence the course of the special military operation.”
Another key topic under discussion between U.S. and Ukrainian officials is finding alternative export pathways for Ukrainian grain.
This need has arisen due to Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative—which was set to expire last November—and the consistent targeting of port facilities in Odesa.
The potential solutions might involve exploring overland channels or utilizing coastal shipping routes to bypass the risks in international waters from the Russian Navy.
On his way to Kyiv, Blinken also held a meeting with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
The Secretary of State expressed gratitude for Denmark’s proactive role, especially for training Ukrainian pilots on F-16s and their pledge to donate these fighter aircraft to Ukraine.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed the same.
