Blinken in Ukraine to offer ‘strong assurance’ as US weapons reach frontline

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Ukraine as weapons from a new US aid package begin arriving on the front lines.

His visit comes as the country struggles to contain a major Russian incursion near its second-largest city, Kharkiv.

America’s top diplomat is expected to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky and other officials.

Mr. Blinken will deliver a message of reassurance, US officials say.

The secretary of state’s arrival on Tuesday marks three weeks since the US Congress finally approved a new $61bn (£49bn) aid package for Ukraine.

The breakthrough follows more than a year of partisan paralysis in Washington, with some Republicans adamantly opposed to funding.

Before Mr. Blinken arrived in kyiv, a senior U.S. official said U.S.-funded weapons now arriving on the front line included air defense interceptors, artillery and missile-guided missiles. ATACMS long range precision.

“We have already started sending long-range artillery (and) ATACMS capable of covering any part of Ukraine, as well as other air defense capabilities intended to meet the most urgent needs, especially regarding Russia’s current activities in the country,” the official said.

Mr Blinken arrived by sleeper train, arriving in kyiv after a nine-hour journey from the Polish border.

He landed Monday in Rzeszów, a city in southeastern Poland, whose airport is now a major logistics hub moving defense supplies and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

The airfield’s perimeter bristles with U.S. Patriot missile defense batteries – a stark reminder of America’s role in strengthening NATO border defenses, more than two years after the start of the war in Ukraine .

Mr. Blinken will deliver a message of “strong comfort” to Ukrainians “at a difficult time,” a US official said. This will include discussions on how to help the country regain military “initiative”, the official said.

Ukraine faces not only a “fierce battle on the eastern front,” the official added, but also the latest cross-border attack on Kharkiv.

Asked by the BBC whether the delay in supplying weapons to Congress could have contributed to Moscow’s decision to carry out the assault, the official said he would draw “no direct correlation” but said added that “the Ukrainians are certainly in a more difficult position.” because they have been waiting for this help for a long time.”

Washington hopes that an increase in U.S.-supplied weapons will allow Ukraine to move toward “active defense” against the Russians and become “increasingly confident in maintaining their positions, pushing them back as they receive more help.”