Day 61 of the Invasion of Ukraine: US will Return its Diplomats to Kyiv and Send more Financial Aid

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky talked with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Minister Lloyd Austin, who arrived in Kyiv last night.

The two promised a gradual return of US diplomats to the Ukrainian capital this week, a senior State Department official said after leaving Kyiv. In addition, Blinken and Austin have announced the provision of more than $700 million in additional direct and indirect military aid to Ukraine.

At the heart of their talks with President, Volodymyr Zelensky was Kyiv's demand for heavier weapons to stop the Russian offensive in southern and eastern Ukraine.

The $713 million aid will be distributed between Ukraine and 15 other countries in Central and Eastern Europe. About $322 million is for Kyiv. The rest are allies who have sent aid to Ukraine since the start of the war to get the weapons they need.

The total amount of military supplies from the United States to Ukraine reached 3.7 billion dollars.

"We do not know how the war will develop from now on, but we know that the existence of a sovereign, independent Ukraine will last much longer than the presence of Vladimir Putin. We will continue to support Ukraine until final success is achieved," said Antony Blinken at a press conference after the visit, adding that it is an expression of American support for the leadership of Ukraine. He added that he had talked with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who will visit Moscow and Kyiv this week, to convey a strong message to President Putin to end the war, a truce to be achieved and the evacuation of civilians from dangerous areas to finally occur.

Moscow, for its part, has sent a note to Washington calling for an end to US arms supplies to Ukraine,...