Top US diplomat makes surprise visit in show off support to Ukraine
- 6 September, 20:39
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken made a surprise visit to Kyiv e in show of support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and amid deadly Russia missile attack on the country.
Touching upon his upcoming official visit to Kyiv earlier, Blin ken voiced “unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and democracy” as the country’s counteroffensive against Russia continues, according to State Department release.
Blinken is expected to announce a new package of US assistance of $175m-$200m during the two-day visit, with a larger package worth more than $1bn expected later this week, according to a senior state department official. During the surprise visit, Blinken will meet President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
The visit comes amid fury over Russia’s deadly missile attack that killed 16 people, and injured 26 more. The involving the use of ballistic missiles, targeted a market in Kostyantynivka settlement near Bakhmut where the fighting has been heavy in the past few months.
“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,” Blinken also told Kuleba. The visit also comes amid Ukraine’s successful counteroffensive against Russia that has progressed slowly in recent years. “We’ve seen good progress on the counteroffensive,” Blinken told Kuleba, according to a State Department release.
