News - Middle East: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has made a surprise visit to Kiev. Washington has approved $2.7 billion in military aid to Ukraine and its allies.

Blinken traveled in secrecy on Thursday on his second trip to the Ukrainian capital since Russia commenced its “special military operation” in the ex-Soviet country on February 24. He met with his Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
Blinken began his visit by touring a hospital for children.

Since the onset of Moscow’s operation, the US and its European allies have imposed an array of unprecedented sanctions against Russia and poured numerous batches of advanced weapons in Ukraine to help its military fend off the Russian forces. The Kremlin has always warned such measures will only prolong the war.

As Blinken was heading to Kiev, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin gathered with allies at the US airbase in Ramstein, Germany, to discuss support for Ukraine, announcing the latest arms package to Kiev at the meeting with dozens of fellow ministers.

The latest package includes $675 million to be sent shortly in arms, ammunition and supplies, $1 billion in longer-term loans and grants for Kiev to purchase more American equipment and an equivalent amount for purchases by neighboring countries deemed “threatened” by Russia.

Citing an unnamed US State Department official, AFP reported that Blinken informed Congress of the $2 billion “to bolster the security of Ukraine and 18 of its neighbors, including... many of our NATO allies as well as other regional security partners who are most potentially at risk for future Russian aggression.”

Washington has already authorized $4 billion in loans and grants to Ukraine and its neighbors in the fiscal year that ended in June.