Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Ukraine on Tuesday to meet with senior officials and show support for the embattled country in its war against Russia — the first official talks since Congress passed its most recent foreign aid bill.
“We know this is a challenging time,” Blinken said from Kyiv, where he met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, The Associated Press reported.
The secretary, who lobbied hard for more aid for Ukraine, said the U.S. sending military resources is going to “make a real difference against the ongoing Russian aggression on the battlefield.”
In a statement Monday, the State Department announced Blinken’s travels and said he would “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.”
“Blinken reiterated the United States’ enduring support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and our commitment to Ukraine’s recovery,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.
The visit comes less than a month after President Biden signed a foreign aid package sending $60 billion to Ukraine that will help with its artillery and air defense. The package was delayed several months due to a bitter battle in Congress over border security and the Israel-Hamas war.
Russia continues to move into northwestern Ukraine after several advances in the past week, seen as Moscow’s largest gains since 2022, analysts said.
The secretary said some of the U.S. aid is “now on the way” and some resources have already arrived in Ukraine, according to the AP. He added that “a strong, successful, thriving, free Ukraine is the best possible rebuke to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and the best possible guarantor for your future.”
Zelensky thanked Blinken for his support but stressed that more aid is necessary as Ukraine faces the attacks in the north.
“The people are under attack: civilians, warriors, everybody,” the Ukrainian president said, the AP reported. “They’re under Russian missiles.”
Blinken’s unannounced trip was his fourth visit to the region since Russian troops invaded in February 2022.
He is set to deliver remarks Tuesday addressing how the U.S. and other allies will help Ukraine reach its goal of “building a free, prosperous, and secure democracy.”
The Associated Press contributed.