US to provide $33 bln worth of aid to Ukraine: Blinken to Kuleba
Blinken met with his Ukrainian counterpart and discussed aid in addition to the return of US diplomats to Ukraine.
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Ukrainian servicemen unpack a shipment of US military aid at Boryspil airport outside Kiev, Ukraine, February 11, 2022. (AP)
On Saturday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba the return of US diplomats to Ukraine, in addition to providing $33 billion worth of aid to the country.
"Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to follow up on their April 24 meeting in Kiev," US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said in a state department readout.
"The Secretary emphasized the United States' robust support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia's brutal aggression," the readout said.
"The Secretary provided an update on plans for US diplomats to return to Ukraine, including initial visits to Lviv this week and plans to return to Kiev as soon as possible. The Secretary and Foreign Minister discussed the Administration's April 28 request to Congress for $33 billion in security, economic, and humanitarian aid to empower Ukraine to defeat the Kremlin's unconscionable war," the statement added.
Read more: $33 bln package will help US shareholders more than Ukraine
On Thursday, US President Joe Biden asked Congress for $33 billion in funds for Ukraine, including $20 billion for military assistance.
The hefty request tops the $4 billion military aid that Biden allocated for Ukraine, of which $3.4 billion came after February 24, according to Sputnik.
Last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Kiev and met with the Ukrainian president.
During the visit, the two US ministers said that US diplomats are to return to Ukraine next week.
The US diplomats relocated to Poland during the war - before the operation started, conducting a day trip to Lviv, where many Ukrainian officials have relocated since leaving Kiev.
