US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrived in Kiev on Wednesday for an unannounced visit, in a gesture of support as Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russian forces enters its fourth month without major gains.
Blinken’s visit will last two days, as he will spend the night in Ukraine for the first time since before the start of the Russian attack in Ukraine in February 2022.
A US State Department official told a news conference that Blinken will likely announce a new package of US aid worth more than $1 billion.
The official added that Blinken, in the first visit by a senior US official to Kiev since the start of the Ukrainian counteroffensive, is expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, other senior officials, and civil society figures.
Russian Defense Minister: Ukraine’s counterattack failed on all fronts
The course of the counterattack
Media reports quoted unnamed US officials as saying that the Ukrainian counterattack is very slow and hindered by weak tactics, criticisms that angered Ukrainian officials and prompted Kuleba to respond to them by saying, “Shut up.”
Ukraine has regained more than 10 villages and small residential communities, but the progress of its soldiers in areas under Russian control has been slowed by minefields and trenches dug for several kilometers.
US officials have been cautious about publicly criticizing the Ukrainian military’s tactics, saying last week that they had seen significant Ukrainian progress in the past 72 hours in the country’s southeast.
Reuters quoted a senior US official – his name was Fadl Size – that Washington would like to have a discussion about the course of the offensive with the Ukrainians and assess the needs of the battlefield, in addition to any steps that may be required to enhance energy security in Ukraine, before the winter months.
“I think the most important thing is that we get a real assessment from the Ukrainians themselves… We want to see and hear how they intend to move forward in the coming weeks,” he added.
The controversy over Washington sending cluster munitions to Kiev is still going on
Growing opposition to Ukrainian aid
Blinken’s visit follows the dismissal of Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov this week. By virtue of his position, Reznikov was pressuring Washington and its allies to obtain weapons to confront Russian forces.
Parliament is expected to approve the selection of former deputy Rustam Umarov as his successor.
Despite strong US support for Ukraine so far since the start of the Russian offensive, a number of Republican presidential hopefuls have questioned that aid, raising concerns about Washington’s ability to continue supporting Ukraine to the same extent as the 2024 US election campaign intensifies.
Questions about the feasibility of US financial support to Ukraine
To date, the US government has provided more than $43 billion in arms and other military assistance to Ukraine.
Kiev hopes to acquire US-made F-16 fighter jets, which several NATO countries have pledged to supply to Ukraine.
US President Joe Biden asked Congress in August to approve additional spending of about $40 billion, including $24 billion for Ukraine and other international needs.
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2023-09-06 10:29:37
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