Blinken Visits Ukraine Amid Escalating Conflict with Russia

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Ukraine to support its fight against Russia’s invasion. Accompanied by Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Blinken plans to discuss Kyiv's goals with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and address deepening military cooperation between Russia and Iran. The visit also precedes Zelenskiy's trip to the U.S.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to arrive in Ukraine on Wednesday, marking a significant moment for international support in the country's struggle against Russia's invasion.

Traveling alongside Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Blinken's visit aims to directly hear from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and other officials regarding Kyiv's objectives and how Washington can assist in achieving them. Blinken emphasized the crucial timing of his visit during an intense fall fighting season with Russia's escalating aggression.

Zelenskiy has called for Western nations to provide longer-range missiles and lift restrictions on their usage. As the conflict extends beyond two and a half years, Ukrainian forces remain under strain, facing a more heavily armed and numerous adversary. Despite a bold cross-border incursion into Russia last month, Russian forces continue to advance in the east. Additionally, Blinken warned that cooperation between Russia and Iran, including recent supplies of ballistic missiles to Moscow, poses a broader threat to European security.

(With inputs from agencies.)