14-5-2024 (KYIV) In a powerful display of unwavering support, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday, embarking on an unannounced diplomatic mission aimed at reassuring Ukraine of America’s steadfast commitment to its defense against intensifying Russian attacks.
The visit, Blinken’s fourth to the embattl ed nation since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, comes on the heels of Congress approving a long-awaited foreign assistance package, allocating a staggering $60 billion in aid for Ukraine. A significant portion of these funds will be dedicated to replenishing Ukraine’s depleted artillery and air defense systems, which have been instrumental in thwarting Russian aggression.
During his two-day stay, Blinken is expected to underscore the Biden administration’s resolute commitment to Ukraine’s defense and long-term security, according to U.S. officials. They noted that since President Joe Biden signed the aid package into law last month, the administration has already announced $1.4 billion in short-term military assistance and a further $6 billion in longer-term support.
“It is trying to really accelerate the tempo of U.S. weapon shipments to Ukraine,” said national security adviser Jake Sullivan, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. “What I am going to suggest is that the level of intensity being exhibited right now in terms of moving stuff is at a 10 out of 10.”
According to a senior U.S. official traveling with Blinken, artillery, air defense interceptors, and long-range ballistic missiles have already been delivered, with some reaching the front lines. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that Blinken’s visit aims to “send a strong signal of reassurance” to Ukrainian leaders and civil society figures he will meet.
In a statement released following Blinken’s arrival, the State Department confirmed that he would meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top Ukrainian officials “to discuss battlefield updates, the impact of new U.S. security and economic assistance, long-term security and other commitments, and ongoing work to bolster Ukraine’s economic recovery.”
Delays in U.S. assistance, particularly during Israel’s conflict with Hamas, had triggered deep concerns in Kyiv and Europe. Blinken’s last visit to Kyiv was in September, while he has visited the Middle East seven times since the Gaza conflict began in October.
The senior U.S. official added that Blinken would deliver a speech later on Tuesday, extolling Ukraine’s “strategic successes” in the war. This address is intended to complement Blinken’s previous speech in Helsinki, Finland, where he derided Russian President Vladimir Putin for Moscow’s strategic failures in launching the war.
However, since the Helsinki speech, Russia has intensified its attacks, notably as the U.S. House sat on the aid package for months without action, forcing a suspension in the provision of most U.S. assistance. These attacks have escalated in recent weeks as Russia seeks to capitalize on Ukrainian shortages in manpower and weapons while the new assistance is in transit.
Sullivan revealed that top Biden administration officials and Ukrainian national security officials held a call on Monday “about the situation on the front, about the capabilities that they are most in need of, and a real triage effort to say, ‘Get us this stuff this fast so that we can be in a position to effectively defend against the Russian onslaught.'”
Zelenskyy warned over the weekend that “fierce battles” are taking place near the border in eastern and northeastern Ukraine, as outgunned and outnumbered Ukrainian soldiers strive to push back a significant Russian ground offensive.
The Kremlin’s forces aim to exploit Ukrainian weaknesses before a substantial influx of new military aid from the U.S. and European partners arrives on the battlefield in the coming weeks and months, according to Ukrainian commanders and analysts. This period represents a window of opportunity for Moscow and one of the most perilous for Kyiv in the two-year war.
The new Russian push in the northeastern Kharkiv region and a drive into the eastern Donetsk region follow months of relative stalemate along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, where both sides have engaged in a war of attrition marked by long-range strikes.
Despite recent setbacks, the senior U.S. official acknowledged that Ukraine could still claim significant victories, including reclaiming some 50% of the territory Russian forces seized in the early months of the war, boosting its economic standing, and improving transportation and trade links, not least through military successes in the Black Sea.
Acknowledging the “tough fight” and “tremendous pressure” Ukraine faces, the official argued that Ukrainians “will become increasingly more confident” as the new U.S. and other Western assistance surges.
Blinken echoed this sentiment on Sunday, stating that there was “no doubt” the monthslong delay in aid caused problems but asserting, “We are doing everything we can to rush this assistance out there.” He added, “It’s a challenging moment. We are not going anywhere, and neither are more than some 50 countries that are supporting Ukraine. That will continue, and if Putin thinks he can outlast Ukraine, outlast its supporters, he’s wrong.”
