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Near the Polish-Ukrainian border: After a trip to Kyiv shrouded in secrecy, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said US diplomats would start returning to Ukraine, in a strong signal of solidarity from the United States.
Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin travelled to Kyiv, where they met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky among others, making them the highest-level US officials to travel to the country after the Russian invasion.
“We had an opportunity to demonstrate directly our strong ongoing support for the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian people. This was, in our judgment, an important moment to be there to have face-to-face conversations in detail,” Blinken told reporters near the Polish-Ukrainian border after returning from Kyiv, according to reports.
Zelensky’s office released a video of the meeting later, in which Blinken praises his “extraordinary courage and leadership”. “We got used to seeing you on video around the world, but it’s great, it’s good to see you in person,” a smiling Blinken says.
VIDEO: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Kyiv.
It is the first time that such high-level US officials have travelled to Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in late February pic.twitter.com/0eSAZBTn92
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) April 25, 2022
Blinken said US diplomats will first return to Lviv and then other parts. The US Embassy in Kyiv will remain closed for now.
Austin said “the world has been inspired” by Ukraine during the war. “What you’ve done in repelling the Russians in the battle of Kyiv is extraordinary,” he said.
Austin said “we want to see Ukraine remain a sovereign country, a democratic country able to protect its sovereign territory. We want to see Russia weakened to the point where it can’t do things like invade Ukraine”.
Journalists who travelled with Austin and Blinken to Poland were barred from reporting on the trip until it ended and did not accompany on their land journey into Ukraine.
Also watch: https://odishabytes.com/watch-uk-pm-boris-johnson-walks-through-kyivs-streets-zelensky-by-his-side/
