US top diplomat Blinken visits Ukraine, to announce new military financing - officials

[September 08, 2022]   By Simon Lewis
 
RZESZOW, Poland (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Ukraine on Thursday and will announce $2 billion in new foreign military financing to Ukraine and 18 other countries at risk of future Russian aggression, State Department officials said.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during an event with African diaspora youth and Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs exchange alumni at a restaurant in Washington, DC, U.S. August 15, 2022. Mandel Ngan / Pool via REUTERS

Blinken’s visit comes as Ukraine reported positive progress in its effort to retake territory seized by Russia near Ukraine’s second-largest city Kharkiv.

A State Department official, who did not specify the other countries or how much would go to Ukraine, said the Biden administration was notifying the U.S. Congress of its intent to make the funding available for long-term investments.

The latest announcements of military aid brings the total U.S. security assistance to Ukraine to $15.2 billion since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, the official said.

Biden also approved a separate $675 million in weapons to Ukraine, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced earlier on Thursday as ministers met in Germany to discuss how to continue supporting Ukraine long-term in countering Russia's Feb. 24 invasion.

(Reporting by Simon Lewis; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel, William Maclean)

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