Russia attacks Ukraine: US promises new aid during meeting with Zelenskyy

KYIV, Ukraine — The United States vowed to provide Ukraine with new assistance Sunday as top federal officials met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.

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According to The Associated Press, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told Zelenskyy that the U.S. has given the green light to a $165 million ammunition sale to Ukraine. More than $300 million in foreign military financing also has been approved, Blinken and Austin said.

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U.S. diplomats who left Ukraine in February will begin to return this week, the pair added. They said President Joe Biden soon will reveal his choice for a U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, as well, according to the AP.

Sunday’s talks marked the highest-level U.S. visit to Kyiv since Russian forces first invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, the AP reported.

In a Monday news conference, Blinken told reporters that he and Austin “had an opportunity to demonstrate directly our strong ongoing support” for Ukraine, according to the news agency.

“We’re seeing that when it comes to Russia’s war aims, Russia is failing,” Blinken said. “Ukraine is succeeding.”

Austin said Zelenskyy “has the mindset that they want to win, and we have the mindset that we want to help them win,” the AP reported.

– The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Photos: Top US officials meet Ukrainian president in Kyiv U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pose for a picture during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 24, 2022 (U.S. Department of Defense via AP)