U.S. aid package arrives in Ukraine as Blinken confirms the long-term security

On Tuesday, the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss military support for Ukraine.

According to reports, Zelensky said: "We want to get it as soon as possible, and the second point is air defense, the biggest deficit for us. I think the biggest problem is that we really need today two patriots for the Kharkiv region, because there are people – they are under attack, civilians, warriors, everybody – they are under Russian missiles,"

During his visit in Ukraine, Blinken also gave a speech in Polytechnic University in Kyiv.

"Under our own ten-year agreement, the United States will support Ukraine's defense and security across a range of essential capabilities: from its air force to its air defense, from drones to demining," he said.

The delayed $61 billion aid package for Ukraine signed by President Biden has finally started arriving – support necessary, especially during another intense Russian invasion in the Kharkiv region.

"After the delay in approving the latest US assistance package to Ukraine, a delay that left you more vulnerable to Russia’s attacks, some Ukrainians may be wondering whether you can count on America to sustain its commitment," Blinken said in his speech. "The $60 billion aid package that was approved by our Congress, with overwhelming support across both political parties in both houses of Congress, I think demonstrates that you can."

The recent fights in Kharkiv region, pushing Russian invasion further, may be the effect of the gap in delivery time of the U.S. aid, as reports say.

"The delay put Ukraine in a hole and we’re trying to help them to get out of that hole as rapidly as possible," said Jake Sullivan, White House national security adviser.

Blinken has also responded to some of the U.S. aid opponents' comments, claiming that Ukraine should "stand strong on its own two feet militarily, economically, and democratically so that America’s support can transition to more sustainable levels."

What Ukraine also awaits is the NATO accession, the topic which Blinken has also covered in his speech.

"You have a lot to teach the alliance. NATO will be more secure with your military by our side," he said. However, the precise timeline of the accession has not been prognosed yet.

So far, it is the Group of Seven (G7) Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine that provides the long-term support. It has already been joined by over 30 countries.

"We meet at a critical moment," Blinken concluded the University speech. "The coming weeks and months will demand a great deal of Ukrainians, who have already sacrificed so much. I’ve come to Ukraine with a message: You are not alone."

Source: CNN, Kyiv Independent