Blinken visits Ukraine in show of support, says it needs 'strong deterrent'

[September 06, 2023]  KYIV (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Kyiv on Wednesday to show support for Ukraine and its grinding counteroffensive against Russian forces, and said Washington wanted to ensure its ally has a "strong deterrent".

Blinken arrived hours after the latest Russian air strike on Kyiv, though no damage or casualties were reported in the capital.

During his two-day visit, Blinken is likely to announce a new package of U.S. wartime assistance worth more than $1 billion, a senior State Department official told reporters on the trip.

Blinken, the first top U.S. official to visit Kyiv since the counteroffensive began in early June, began talks with Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and was due to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the official said.

"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 standing alongside Kuleba.

"We're also determined to continue to work with our partners as they build and rebuild a strong economy, strong democracy."

Media reports have cited unidentified U.S. officials as saying the Ukrainian counteroffensive has been too slow and hindered by poor tactics - criticism that angered Ukrainian officials and prompted Kuleba to tell critics to "shut up".

Ukraine has retaken more than a dozen villages and small settlements in its offensive. But its push into Russian-held territory has been slowed by minefields and trenches.

U.S. officials have not publicly criticised Ukraine's military tactics, and last week said they had seen notable Ukrainian progress in the previous 72 hours of its push in the southeast.

The State Department official said Washington wanted to discuss how the counteroffensive was going and assess battlefield needs as well as any steps that might be required to shore up Ukraine's energy security before winter.

"I think what's most important is that we get a real assessment from the Ukrainians themselves," the official said. "We want to see, hear how they intend to push forward in the coming weeks."

Asked about Blinken's visit, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow believed Washington planned to continue funding Ukraine's military "to wage this war to the last Ukrainian". He said U.S. aid to Kyiv would not affect the course of Russia's 'special military operation'.

RISING OPPOSITION TO UKRAINE AID

Blinken's visit coincided with parliament approving the appointment of former lawmaker Rustem Umerov as defence minister following the dismissal of Oleksii Reznikov. Officials did not say whether Blinken would meet Umerov during the visit.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba greets US Secretary of State Antony Blinken before a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv, Ukraine on September 6, 2023. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit on September 6, 2023, where he was due to announce more than a billion dollars in fresh aid to Ukraine. Blinken's visit -- his fourth during Moscow's assault -- comes as Kyiv has touted some successes this week in its offensive to push back Russian forces. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/Pool via REUTERS

During his train ride to Kyiv, Blinken also held talks with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen - coincidentally visiting the same day.

Blinken thanked 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," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

Denmark and the Netherlands announced last month they would supply more than 60 U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine as soon as pilots are trained to fly them, the first countries to offer the jets after winning U.S. approval to send them.

Zelenskiy thanked allies in a post on the Telegram messaging app: "Thanks to courage. Thanks to unity. Thanks to weapons. Thanks to the support of the world."

Despite staunch U.S. support for Ukraine so far since Russia's invasion in February last year, several Republican presidential hopefuls have questioned U.S. aid, fuelling concerns over whether Washington will still back Ukraine at the same level once the U.S. 2024 election campaign intensifies.

The U.S. government has so far provided more than $43 billion in weaponry and other military aid to Ukraine. A new package of security assistance is set to be announced this week, Reuters reported on Friday.

U.S. President Joe Biden asked Congress in August to approve about $40 billion in additional spending, including $24 billion for Ukraine and other international needs.

The request could face opposition in Congress, where some far-right Republicans - especially those with close ties to former President Donald Trump - want to pare back the billions in assistance Washington has sent to Ukraine.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk in Washington; Additional reporting by Tom Balmforth in Kyiv; Editing by Timothy Heritage, Angus MacSwan, Peter Graff)

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