Blinken visits Kyiv, continues vowing U.S. support

Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in the Ukrainian capital Tuesday morning to visit Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He is the first Biden Cabinet member to visit Ukraine weeks after Congress approved an international aid package that included nearly $61 billion more in funding for the country. Blinken intended to demonstrate unwavering support for Ukraine as they defend their freedom against Russian aggression, he wrote on social media. The United States has been by Ukraine’s side from day one and will stay there, he said he told Zelenskyy.

Blinken’s visit also follows battlefield advances by Russian forces. According to an interactive map by the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based nonprofit group, Russia has continued moving into northeastern Ukraine over the last week. The offensive has seen some of Moscow’s most significant gains since Ukraine reclaimed Kharkiv in September 2022.

What will he do in Kyiv? Blinken was scheduled to meet with Zelenskyy and other leaders to discuss battlefield updates, Department of State spokesman Matthew Miller wrote on social media. He added that they will also discuss the impacts of new security and economic assistance from the United States and ongoing work to bolster Ukraine’s economic recovery. Blinken will also speak at the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute at 11 a.m. EST about how allies will help Ukraine build a prosperous and secure democracy.

Dig deeper: Read my report in The Sift on Ukrainian-born Rep. Victoria Spartz’s opposing supplemental funding for Ukraine.