US to boost security assistance to Ukraine amid ‘reckless’ Russian actions, Blinken says
- The US Secretary of State said Russia had left behind significant numbers of troops despite announcing a withdrawal of its forces from close to the border
- He also urged Ukraine to stick to a path of reforms and fighting corruption and the influence of oligarchs
During a visit to Kiev intended to show support for Ukraine, Blinken said Russia had left behind significant numbers of troops and equipment despite announcing a withdrawal of its forces from close to the border after a stand-off that alarmed the West.
“We are aware that Russia has withdrawn some forces from the border of Ukraine, but we also see that significant forces remain there, significant equipment remains there,” Blinken said, speaking alongside Zelensky.
Washington is “actively looking at strengthening even further our security cooperation and our security assistance”, he said, without giving details.
Will Russia invade Ukraine? ‘Low to medium’ risk, US general says
Zelensky said Russia had withdrawn only about 3,500 of the tens of thousands of troops deployed to the Crimea peninsula which it annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
“There may be a threat. Nobody wants these surprises,” he said.
Blinken mixed solidarity with calls for Ukraine to stick to a path of reforms and fighting corruption and the influence of oligarchs. The State Department expressed concern about the firing of a reformist energy official last week.
03:35
Russian troops massing near Ukraine’s eastern border sparks invasion fear
Biden had pledged “unwavering support” to Zelensky in April as Kiev and Moscow traded blame for clashes in Ukraine’s eastern Donbass region and Russia’s troop deployment.
The stand-off prompted Ukraine to call for the US and Europe to help accelerate Kiev’s Nato entry. Zelensky asked Blinken for support in securing a Membership Action Plan at a Nato summit in June.
Washington has been Kiev’s most powerful backer since Russia annexed Crimea and the conflict between Ukrainian soldiers and Russian-backed separatists began. Ukraine says the fighting has killed 14,000 people in seven years.
“I don’t want to waste your time on the past, let’s talk about the future,” Zelensky said when asked about Giuliani.
Kiev would like Washington to supply more military hardware to Ukraine. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said last month that this included equipment to counter Russia’s capacity to jam Ukrainian communications.
In a CNN interview, Kuleba said Ukraine was also asking for air defence systems and anti-sniper technology.
