CNN
—
Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced journey to Ukraine Thursday – paying his second go to to the nation’s capital metropolis for the reason that warfare with Russia started greater than six months in the past.
Whereas in Kyiv, Blinken met with Ukrainian Overseas Minister Dmytro Kuleba and visited a kids’s hospital.
His journey comes as Ukraine has launched counteroffensives geared toward reclaiming Russian occupied areas within the south and northeast of the nation. It additionally coincides with a gathering of the Ukraine Protection Contact Group, hosted by US Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
Each Austin and Blinken visited Ukraine in late April. They continue to be the best degree US officers to have traveled to the nation for the reason that warfare started in late February. A number of heads of state have gone to Ukraine to fulfill with its President Volodymyr Zelensky. US President Joe Biden has but to journey there, although the 2 leaders spoke by cellphone in latest weeks.
Based on the State Division, Blinken additionally briefly went into Ukraine when he met on the border with Kuleba in March.
The Biden administration has pledged ongoing assist to Ukraine, and has dedicated greater than $13 billion in safety help for the reason that battle began started. Austin introduced a brand new $675 million tranche on Thursday. Moreover, Blinken is predicted announce Thursday that america intends to supply $2 billion to bolster the safety of Ukraine and 18 different regional international locations.
Throughout his Thursday journey, Blinken, accompanied by US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, visited the Nationwide Youngsters’s Specialised Hospital Ohmatdyt in Kyiv and met with kids who have been being handled there – together with some injured within the warfare. He additionally met Patron, the mine-sniffing canine who has gained worldwide renown.
Blinken introduced the Jack Russell terrier with canine treats, quipping that “since he’s already acquired quite a few medals and awards, I assumed he’d really choose one thing a extra usable.” He posed for images within the foyer with the vest-clad pup, who accompanied him as he toured the hospital.
“We now have a protracted historical past of engaged on de-mining,” Blinken mentioned. “We’re honored to be working with you on that.”
The highest US diplomat met a number of kids being handled on the hospital, together with a 6-year-old, Maryna, who misplaced a part of her leg and has been within the hospital since Could after being injured in Kherson and 13-year-old Kateryna who was injured within the Kramatorsk rail station assault in early April and whose mom was killed.
“We so admire the braveness, the spirit of your kids. It sends a really robust message all world wide,” Blinken advised the room. “And it’s an honor for me to fulfill you, to fulfill them, and to see the fantastic work that the medical doctors, the Minister, the Ronald McDonald Home, everyone seems to be doing. We’re simply comfortable to have the ability to assist and to be a good friend and a accomplice.”
This story has been up to date with further data.