IRIA News

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Kyiv on September 6, 2023, to meet with the Ukrainian leadership, including President Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, and Foreign Minister Kuleba. During his two-day unannounced visit, Blinken discussed Ukraine’s counteroffensive efforts.

The U.S. State Department released a statement about Blinken’s visits stating that the U.S. secretary of state arrived in Ukraine to meet with senior Ukrainian officials and demonstrate the United States’ unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and democracy, especially in the face of Russia’s aggression.

The statement added that Blinken would hold meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to discuss Ukraine’s ongoing counteroffensive and future recovery and reconstruction efforts. 

Good to meet with @DmytroKuleba in Kyiv today to reaffirm the United States’ steadfast support for Ukraine’s defense and future deterrence. pic.twitter.com/43XRQ0I0ev

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) September 6, 2023

“Returned to Kyiv today to meet with our Ukrainian partners to discuss their ongoing counteroffensive, future assistance, and reconstruction efforts, and above all, to reinforce the unwavering U.S. commitment to Ukraine,” Blinken wrote on his Twitter as he arrived in Kyiv.

Blinken was welcomed by the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba as he arrived in Kyiv. “It’s a great pleasure to welcome a colleague, a friend, Antony Blinken, State Secretary of the United States, here in Ukraine, and particularly in the foreign ministry,” Kuleba said as he welcomed Blinken in front of the foreign ministry office in Kyiv. “I think this testifies to the quality of personal but also, relationship but also the relationship between our countries,” he added.

“We want to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs, not only to succeed in the counteroffensive but has what it needs for the long term, to make sure that it has a strong deterrent,” Blinken said during his meeting with Kuleba.

Great meeting with @Denys_Shmyhal today in Kyiv to discuss our cooperation to support Ukraine’s democratic and prosperous future. The Ukrainian people continue to bravely defend their democracy and inspire the world. pic.twitter.com/BIdHsBhCFG

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) September 6, 2023

While in Kyiv, Blinken also met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. According to the U.S. State Department, the two discussed the United States’ steadfast support for Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction, and reform efforts, and the U.S. commitment to work in concert with partners to address Ukraine’s energy, economic, and humanitarian needs.

Ukraine’s counteroffensive

Ukraine’s ongoing counteroffensive campaign against the Russian forces is currently making slow-paced progress. Ukraine’s Western partners and allies have also increased their military support in the wake of the counteroffensive campaign. However, Kyiv’s counteroffensive strategies have attracted criticism from Western observers.

During his visit, Blinken announced a new defense package for Ukraine worth more than $1 billion in security equipment. The new military package would include more weapons and defense systems for Ukraine, which would help the Ukrainian forces fight a much stronger Russian army.

U.S. Secretary Blinken said during a press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba, “In the ongoing counteroffensive, progress has accelerated in the past few weeks. This new assistance will help sustain it and build further momentum.”

White House Press Secretary Larine Jean-Pierre said that the latest U.S. security assistance package would HIMARS missile systems, Abrams tanks, Javelin missiles, and more than three million rounds of small arms ammunition, among other military equipment. In addition to defense systems, the U.S. is also sending depleted uranium ammunition for Abrams tanks to Ukraine to fight invading forces.

Washington has paced up its support for Kyiv, especially after Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Biden administration has committed more than $43 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s invasion in February 2022. That assistance includes more than 2,000 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, more than 10,000 Javelin anti-armor systems, and more than 2 million 155-mm artillery rounds, among other items.

Meeting with Danish Prime Minister

While on his way to Ukraine, Blinken made a stop in Denmark to meet with the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. According to the U.S. State Department, Secretary Blinken and Prime Minister Frederiksen discussed the war in Ukraine and emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Danish Alliance to transatlantic security.

The United States and Denmark share a long, close partnership rooted in shared democratic values and the two discussed ways to further that engagement. Secretary Blinken thanked Prime Minister Frederiksen for Denmark’s leadership in the F-16 coalition of partner nations to train Ukrainian pilots, and for its decision to donate F-16 jets to Ukraine.