The Secretary of State will demonstrate “the unwavering commitment of the United States to the sovereignty” and “territorial integrity” of Ukraine
After criticized the course of the Ukrainian counter-offensive During the month of August, the Joe Biden administration decided that September would be the month of reconciliation. This was made clear by the surprise visit of the foreign minister, Antony Blink, today to Kiev, where he stated that “we see noticeable progress in the counter-offensive” in the south of the country. Blinken’s words come just days after the National Security Council, which reports to the White House, denounced criticism of Ukraine inappropriate US policy towards a belligerent ally.
To confirm Washington’s commitment to Kiev, the head of US diplomacy is expected to announce the posting 1 billion dollars (930 million euros) in aid for the reconstruction of Ukraine, in addition to a new package of military aid between 175 and the $200 million (between 164 and 186 million euros), which comes on top of another amount approved a week ago for another 250 million dollars. However, at the moment there are no announcements about the delivery of new systems from weapons However, based on pledges received from the US a year ago, Ukraine is likely to start receiving in the next few weeks Fences M-1new HIMARS rocket launchers and glide bombs capable of penetrating almost 200 kilometers into Russian-occupied territory.
The arrival of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Kiev will take place when the government of Volodymyr Zelenskyy Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov has just been fired and replaced by Rustem Umerov. Reznikov’s departure, according to observers, appears to be linked to the fight against corruption, a problem endemic to Ukraine that the country must now tackle if it is to achieve its goal of joining the European Union. The arrival of Umerov, a Tatar from Crimea, a region Russia annexed during its first invasion of Ukraine in 2014, also has propaganda significance: Ukraine is the only country in the world with a head of state and a Jewish government ( Zelenski) and a Muslim Defense Minister (Umerov).
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian offensive continues and may even have gained some pulse in the last days. Slowly advancing further south, the Kiev soldiers reach the second barrier of fortifications, minefields and trenches of the so-called “Surovikin line” built by the Russians last fall to protect their conquests on the shore of the Sea of ​​Azov.
Further north, around the town of Bakhmut, where fighting has been ongoing for a year, Ukraine has made fresh progress in its goal of encircling the town captured by mercenaries Group Wagner in June. The very focus of Ukraine’s efforts on Bakhmut is driving the US Department of Defense insane, for which Kyiv could best focus south.
