Adding to the list of Ukraine-allies to recently visit Kyiv, a high-ranking diplomatic delegation from the United States (US), headed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the beseiged capital on Sunday to discuss the sanctions policy against Russia.
The Ukrainian leader confirmed that he had shown the US officials Kyiv’s Action Plan against Moscow, which has been drafted by the Yermak-McFaul international expert group. The two sides also went over post-war reconstruction and additional economic support for Kyiv during the meeting.
Austin and Blinken met with Zelensky and their Ukrainian counterparts for 3 hours in Kiev for “detailed discussions.” Senior defense official had told us the meeting was slated for 90 minutes.
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) April 25, 2022
In a statement, Zelensky hailed Blinken and Austin’s visit and also thanked lawmakers in the US Congress for their “bicameral and bipartisan” military and economic assistance to Ukraine, noting, “We see it. We feel it.” He also highlighted the importance of Washington’s $3.4 billion worth of defence support, the single-largest contribution made by any country so far.
After the meeting, Blinken and Austin spoke with reporters at the Ukraine-Poland border. In his assessment, Blinken observed that Russia’s goals to “totally subjugate Ukraine” have “failed.” Talking about what he witnessed in Kyiv, he remarked, “We certainly saw people on the streets of Kyiv, evidence of the fact that the battle for Kyiv was won.” However, America’s top diplomat underscored that in other parts of Ukraine, Russia’s “brutality is just horrific.”
President Zelensky met with State Secretary Blinken and Defense Secretary Austin in Kyiv last night pic.twitter.com/N4N1J7IUee
— The RAGE X (@theragex) April 25, 2022
A State Department official confirmed that the US will resume its diplomatic operations in Ukraine. American diplomats are set to conduct day trips to the western city of Lviv and eventually expand their functions in Kyiv. “There is a symbolism to being back in the country,” the official added.
Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Austin called the meeting with Zelensky “very productive,” adding that Ukraine has a high chance of winning the war against Russia as long as they have the “right equipment,” which he emphasised that Washington will supply. He is expected to visit Germany next, where he will meet top defence officials from 20 countries and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) chief Jens Stoltenberg.
Ukraine’s President Zelensky has published photos of himself with US Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin in Kyiv Sunday and said their visit “at this crucial moment for the Ukrainian state is very valuable and important.” pic.twitter.com/gwL84RdyPJ
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) April 25, 2022
Additionally, a State Department official pointed out that Washington has vowed to provide $322 million in new foreign military financing for Kyiv, asserting that this fresh wave of funding is for the fight in Donbas.
Blinken and Austin’s visit to Kyiv comes against the backdrop of Russia accusing the US and NATO of provoking it using nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons.
Furthermore, Russian General Rustam Minnekaev has declared that Moscow seeks “to establish full control over the Donbas and southern Ukraine.” He has also said that Russia’s control over southern Ukraine will provide a way out for the Russian-speaking population of Transnistria, a Russia-backed separatist region in Moldova.
Blinken and Austin were the highest-ranking American officials to meet President Zelensky since Russia’s invasion began two months ago. During the summit, Zelensky was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba and Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov.