US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Visits Ukraine Amid Counteroffensive

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday for his third trip to the Ukrainian capital since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. The visit comes as Ukraine’s counteroffensive moves into its fourth month, with political and military leaders in Kyiv highlighting recent gains in the south of the country. Blinken’s first stop was at a military cemetery, where he laid a wreath in honor of Ukraine’s fallen soldiers. He is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other officials to discuss Ukraine’s efforts to regain land in the eastern city of Bakhmut. Blinken has also already met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, expressing admiration for the bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian people. The visit is an opportunity for the US and Ukraine to align ahead of the United Nations General Assembly later this month. Blinken’s arrival in Kyiv comes less than a month after President Joe Biden requested over $24 billion in funding to help Ukraine defeat Russia in the ongoing war. During his visit, Blinken is also expected to announce over a billion dollars in new US funding for Ukraine, including new security assistance. The visit aims to make the case for continued support to the American people and reaffirm the US commitment to preventing dictators and autocrats from annexing territories with impunity.