IRIA News

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the establishment of a $2 billion fund to support Ukraine in enhancing its defense industrial capabilities. This announcement came as Blinken wrapped up a two-day visit focused on reassuring Kyiv following Russia’s initiation of a new military front last week.

According to Blinken, the foreign military financing will serve a dual purpose. It will not only facilitate Ukraine in procuring weapons from the U.S. but will also support Ukraine’s efforts to bolster its defense industry and domestic manufacturing of machinery and weaponry. Additionally, Blinken mentioned that Ukraine intends to allocate a portion of the funding to procure weapons from other nations.

“All of this, in particular as we think about the defense industrial base, builds on an incredible spirit of innovation, of ingenuity, of entrepreneurship that we see here in Ukraine,” Blinken said during a press briefing in Kyiv alongside Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

“We have not encouraged or enabled strikes outside of Ukraine,” Blinken told reporters. “But ultimately, Ukraine has to make decisions for itself about how it’s going to conduct this war, a war it is conducting in defense of its freedom, of its sovereignty, of its territorial integrity,” he said standing alongside Kuleba. “And we will continue to back Ukraine with the equipment it needs to succeed,” Blinken added.

The moves come after the December agreement between the United States and Ukraine aimed at accelerating the co-production of weapons and the sharing of data to bolster Ukraine’s defense industry.

According to a U.S. official, the $2 billion in foreign military financing primarily originates from the $61 billion designated for Ukraine in the previous month’s appropriation. Additionally, the allocation comprises $400 million, which will now be directed toward Ukraine.

Surprise visit to Kyiv

Blinken arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced two-day visit on May 14, 2024. His visit marked the first trip by a Biden administration official following the belated approval of supplemental funding from the U.S. to the conflict-ridden nation.

“I have come to Ukraine with a message: You are not alone,” he said during a speech at the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute.

Blinken also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who urged him to increase military support to the Ukrainian military, particularly emphasizing the need for additional air defense assistance.

Speaking to reporters, Zelensky stated, “We want to get it as soon as possible, and the second point is air defense, the biggest deficit for us. I think the biggest problem is that we really need today two patriots for the Kharkiv region, because there are people – they are under attack, civilians, warriors, everybody – they are under Russian missiles.”

As I told President @ZelenskyyUA, the U.S. has been by Ukraine's side from day one, and we will stay by your side. pic.twitter.com/NbQx5IqPOw

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) May 14, 2024

While in Kyiv, Blinken also visited Brave1, a component of a Ukrainian government initiative fostering collaboration within the defense sector. During his visit to the facility that makes single-use defense drones capable of surveillance and carrying small payloads of explosives, a presenter briefed Blinken on the ongoing necessity for advancements to stay ahead of Russian attempts to intercept or sabotage the drones.

He commended Ukraine’s achievement in repelling the Russian Black Sea fleet, which has aided in restoring grain exports affected by Russian assaults on infrastructure and shipping.

AI and bionics for Ukrainian vets

Blinken also toured a company specializing in advanced prosthetics for amputee soldiers. Ukrainian physician and electronic engineer Dima Gazda founded Esper Bionics organization to unlock the future of bionic limbs with the help of AI. “It’s one of the most innovative prosthetics that the world has seen, and it’s also using AI to further enable its functions,” Blinken said.

U.S. Secretary of State announced an additional grant for Esper Bionics, which is being supported by the USAID to develop new equipment and expand its work.

Thousands of Ukrainian civilians and soldiers have tragically lost limbs in Putin’s war.@EsperBionics is an innovative Ukrainian-American company helping injured Ukrainians gain back function and independence by providing them with advanced multifunctional prosthetics. pic.twitter.com/uslSMjeW3x

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) May 15, 2024

During the visit, Blinken was joined by U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker who was amazed to see the innovation of Ukraine. “The partnership between USAID and Esper Bionics is one that is a great roadmap for how the private sector can work with our government to expand really extraordinarily important products not only needed within Ukraine but desperately needed around the world,” Pritzker said.

Music diplomacy

While in Kyiv, Blinken sought to uplift the morale of saddened Ukrainians confronting a relentless new Russian offensive, by performing at a local underground bar. Following a long day of engagements with senior officials, civil society representatives, and university students, Blinken made his way to the stage at a bar in Ukraine’s capital and joined a local band to play rhythm guitar and sing Neil Young’s 1989 hit “Rockin’ in the Free World.”

The performance, along with a short optimistic speech from Blinken regarding Ukraine’s military outlook, is gathering mixed reactions from around the globe and is being seen by several observers and analysts. Russian forces have seized large areas of territory along Ukraine’s northeastern border, prompting thousands of civilians in the Kharkiv region to flee amidst the escalating intensity of the attacks.