Blinken discusses Ukraine, military aid with Von Der Leyen
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The Secretary of State reaffirms the US' stance on supporting Ukrainian forces with aid ranging from financial to material and arms, following the virtual meeting with European counterparts.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (AFP)
US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price revealed in a Saturday statement that the phone call between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen intended "to discuss continued support for Ukraine, reaffirm the United States’ commitment to Europe’s energy security, and continue coordination to hold Russia accountable".
According to the release, the diplomats also discussed the necessity of ensuring stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and "the importance of a successful Seventh Replenishment Conference for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria," as Price added.
Earlier this week, Blinken discussed issues including further security and humanitarian aid to Ukraine during a virtual meeting with his European counterparts, in which Blinken convened with UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, after having briefed them on his visit to Ukraine, including talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky. The officials also discussed Iran's issues and their shared resolve to address them cooperatively.
During his unannounced visit to Kiev, Blinken vowed additional US arms supplies for Ukraine, as the Biden administration continues to fuel the war with billions worth of lethal weapons.
This comes after a conference of several defense ministers at the US air base of Ramstein in Germany, whereby US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said talks were about how nations may cooperate to train the Ukrainian military and strengthen their capabilities.
On Thursday, the Biden administration said it will provide $2.8 billion in additional military assistance to Ukraine and its neighboring countries, to allow Ukraine to acquire air defense systems, artillery systems, munitions, drones, and other equipment “to ensure it can continue to defend itself over the long term", according to US President Joe Biden.
It is worth noting that both Germany and the US are Ukraine's biggest financial and military suppliers, with the former providing Ukrainian forces with weapons its army doesn't have and with the latter supplying them with arms that are going missing or being sold on the black market.
