US promises to provide Ukraine with new `game-changing` weapons

(Dan Tri) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Washington’s new batch of weapons aid is on the way and will help Ukraine make a difference in the conflict with Russia.

(Illustration photo: Anadolu)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on May 14 made a surprise visit to Ukraine’s capital Kiev and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The visit marked his fourth time to Ukraine since the conflict in that country broke out more than two years ago and took place not long after the US Congress approved an aid package of nearly 61 billion USD for Kiev.

AP and Reuters cited sources familiar with the two officials’ meeting as saying that Secretary of State Blinken told President Zelensky: `Aid is on the way to Ukraine, some aid has arrived and there will be more aid batches coming.`

The source added that during the meeting, Mr. Zelensky admitted that the Ukrainian army was going through a `difficult period`, especially in the east.

The Ukrainian leader reportedly emphasized the importance of receiving American weapons as quickly as possible and reiterated the request for additional air defense systems.

A US official accompanying Secretary of State Blinken said his visit was intended to `send a strong signal of reassurance to the Ukrainian people, who are clearly in a very difficult time`.

Speaking during his visit to Kiev, Mr. Blinken emphasized that a potential bilateral security agreement between the United States and Ukraine would provide military assistance to Kiev in many different areas, bringing the country closer to its goal of becoming a

`Under our 10-year agreement, the United States will support defense and security across a range of essential capabilities from the air force to the air defense force, from drones to mine clearance,`

Secretary of State Blinken also hinted at a consultation mechanism stipulated in the agreement in the event of an attack on Ukraine.

Mr. Blinken believes that the security agreement between Ukraine and the United States will help accelerate efforts to build Ukraine’s military industry, allowing the country to be less dependent on military support from other countries in the long term, while at the same time

The US and Ukraine are in the process of finalizing an agreement.