Zelensky anticipates ‘difficult winter’ in meeting with Blinken

“EA difficult winter awaits us (…) Perhaps we will have a new experience. But we’re glad we’re not facing it alone. We will do this with our partners,” Zelensky told Blinken, thanking the United States for its assistance to Ukraine, particularly mentioning the energy sector, which was the target of systematic Russian attacks during the cold season last year.

The Ukrainian President said that every visit to Kiev by a US leader “is a great message of support” and asked Blinken to convey this message to his US counterpart, Joe Biden, expressing gratitude to the White House and Congress for the bipartisan support and “great unity” around Ukraine.

“That really helps us. First of all, it helps us on the battlefield, because the United States is really the leader of support on the battlefield. My appreciation. And we’re happy to be able to count on you, and you know that the whole society of Ukraine fully understands and appreciates this,” Zelensky said, noting that Washington’s support for the Ukrainian budget “is crucial.”

Washington’s head of diplomacy arrived in Kiev today for a surprise visit and has already held several meetings, including with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, and with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

The objective, he said, is “to demonstrate support for Ukraine while facing aggression” from Russia, at a time when Ukrainian forces have been carrying out a counter-offensive to recover occupied territory for three months, marked by slow advances, despite military support from Western allies. , against the strong defensive lines of the Moscow troops, especially on the southern front.

“We see very clearly the significant progress that is currently being made in the counter-offensive and that is very, very encouraging,” said Blinken during the meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, insisting on a message he had already left in the meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba .

Before the beginning of Blinken’s visit to Kiev, a senior State Department official told journalists that, during the trip, the United States should announce more than one billion dollars (931 million euros, at current exchange rates) in new Ukraine support funds.

The military offensive launched on February 24, 2022 by Russia in Ukraine caused, according to the latest UN data, the worst refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War (1939-1945).

The Russian invasion – justified by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security – was condemned by the international community in general, which has responded by sending arms to Ukraine and imposing Russia from political and economic sanctions.

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