Antony Blinken Visits Kyiv to Show U.S. Support After Russian Missile Attack and Announce $1 Billion Aid Package

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday for an unannounced visit, hours after Russia launched its first missile attack in a week against the Ukrainian capital. Blinken’s trip is aimed to assess Ukraine’s three-month-old counteroffensive against Russian forces and signal continued U.S. support for Kyiv’s efforts to drive out the Kremlin’s forces after 19 months of war.

During his two-day visit, Blinken is expected to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba among other senior officials as well as civil society figures. He is also likely to announce a new package of U.S. assistance worth more than $1 billion, a senior State Department official told reporters on the trip.

No casualties were reported in the capital but a number of homes were damaged in the attack. The Ukrainian military reported that Russian forces had fired more than 40 rockets at the city. The Ukrainian military said it had responded with artillery fire.

The U.S. and its Western allies have expressed concerns over the pace of progress in Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russian forces. Blinken’s visit is seen as a sign of continued support for Kyiv in its efforts to drive out the Kremlin’s forces. It is also expected to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Ukraine.