US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's arrival in Kyiv on Tuesday marked a significant moment as the first visit by a Biden administration official to Ukraine following the long-awaited passage of US supplemental funding to the country.
During his visit, Blinken met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and delivered a speech emphasizing the US' unwavering support for Ukraine across various fronts, including military, economic, energy, and democratic institution building. This visit comes at a critical time as Russia continues its incursion into northeastern Ukraine, marking its most significant gains since Kyiv's forces recaptured Kharkiv in late summer 2022.
Blinken's trip follows President Joe Biden's signing of a $95 billion foreign aid package, which includes nearly $61 billion for Ukraine. This signing came after a six-month campaign by the White House to build support in a House GOP conference that was increasingly hesitant to send more money overseas.
Before his meeting with Zelensky, Blinken announced that US weapons had begun to arrive in Ukraine, with more on the way to bolster their efforts against Russian aggression. He commended the courage of the Ukrainian people and reaffirmed the US' commitment to Ukraine's military, economic, and democratic progress as a strong message to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Throughout his visit, Blinken also planned to meet with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, and various civil society and private sector partners. These discussions were set to cover updates from the battlefield, the impact of new US security and economic assistance, and ongoing efforts to support Ukraine's economic recovery.
US officials acknowledged that the delay in support due to congressional infighting had exacerbated the situation for Ukraine. However, they expressed confidence in Ukraine's ability to regain the initiative on the battlefield with increased assistance from the US and its allies.
To expedite military support, the US has used the presidential drawdown authority to pull equipment from existing stocks. Additional packages are being announced to accelerate deliveries and help Ukraine withstand Russian aggression.
Despite acknowledging the potential for further Russian advances, US officials believe that increased assistance from the US and its partners will enable Ukraine to resist Russian aggression over time.