The Secretary of State is the is the first top U.S. official to visit Kyiv since the beginning of Ukraine's counteroffensive, which has slowed to a crawl.
— U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit Wednesday, hours after Russia launched its first missile attack in a week against the Ukrainian capital. Blinken's trip aimed to assessand signal continued U.S. support for Kyiv's efforts to drive out the Kremlin's forces as some Western allies are expressing worries about progress after 18 months of war, according to U.S. officials.
"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 during the visit."We're also determined to continue to work with our partners as they build and rebuild a strong economy, strong democracy."
Washington officials said there will be discussions of alternative export routes for Ukrainian grain following Russia's exit from the Black Sea Grain Initiative and its frequent bombardment of port facilities in the Odesa region, from which most grain is transported abroad. Other issues, including support for Ukraine's war-torn economy will be discussed, building on Blinken's June announcement in London of $1.3 billion in aid to help Kyiv rebuild, with a focus on modernizing its energy network, which was bombarded by Russia last winter.
In the Odesa region, meanwhile, one person was killed in a Russian missile and drone attack that hit Izmail port. The attack damaged grain elevators, administrative buildings and agricultural enterprises, local authorities said. U.S. officials said Blinken's decision to stay overnight in Kyiv is intended to send a symbolic signal of American support for Ukraine as the war drags on.
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