unannounced visit
Anthony Blinken announced in Kiev the allocation of two billion dollars in US military aid to Europe, author Associated press. His unannounced visit to the Ukrainian capital came as the administration of United States President Joe Biden announced a new military aid package for Kyiv and other European countries.
In meetings with senior Ukrainian officials, Blinken said the Biden administration had notified Congress of its intention to provide $2 billion in long-term foreign military funding to Ukraine and its 18 neighbors, including NATO countries and regional security partners. the risk of starting a Russian aggression, ”says the article.
The publication explained that after the approval of the initiative by Congress, about one billion dollars of this amount is expected to go to Ukraine and the rest will be shared between Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia. Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
According to material cited by the US State Department, “The funds will be used to “deter and defend emerging threats to their sovereignty and territorial integrity” by strengthening these countries’ military integration with NATO and countering “Russian influence and aggression”.
The US State Department believes the new aid package “reaffirms the US’s unwavering commitment to the future of Ukraine as a democratic, sovereign and independent state, as well as to the security of allies and partners in the region.” “
The authors of the article noted that this funding will go in addition to a $675 million package of heavy weapons, ammunition and armored vehicles for Ukraine alone.
With the new contributions, the total cost of US aid to Ukraine since Biden took office has reached $15.2 billion, according to the Associated Press.
Bloomberg agency clarifiedHe said that during Anthony Blinken’s visit, he met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba for about half an hour. He also visited a children’s hospital in Kiev and interviewed some patients. He also met Boss, a Jack Russell terrier who “helped the Ukrainian army find more than 200 mines laid by Russian troops,” according to the publication.
2 billion to Europe
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who is in Germany for the Ukraine Contact Group meeting, announced a new military equipment package of up to $675 million on Thursday, Bloomberg reported.
HIMARS includes mobile artillery missile systems, as well as anti-missile systems, armored vehicles, howitzers, grenade launchers and other weapons. Equipment will be purchased from US stocks.
Last week, the White House asked Congress for $11.7 billion in additional security and economic assistance for Ukraine in the first quarter of fiscal 2023. This was an urgent request, according to the publication’s source – an American official. In May, US President Joe Biden signed a bill providing $40 billion in aid to Ukraine.
Blinken’s visit to Kyiv followed calls from the International Atomic Energy Agency to establish a security zone around Ukraine’s Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, which was damaged and remained under Russian control. An IAEA team visited the site last week.
It was also noted that Blinken’s visit was “conducted in strict secrecy”. The US Secretary of State went to Kiev for 11 hours by train to avoid using the Ukrainian airspace.
“He (visit – socialbites.ca) was not announced in advance, and journalists <...> He left in Poland, he (Blinken – socialbites.ca) went on an eleven-hour train ride to Kiev, ”the statement said.
Source: Gazeta
