Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary arrive in Ukraine: First details of joint visit

(3:19 p.m. Kyiv time). Lammy made a statement in Kyiv

“I am in Kyiv today with Secretary Blinken to reiterate our united and ironclad support for Ukraine. We must stand up to Vladimir Putin’s imperialism. Our collective security depends on it,” he wrote on X.

(2:56 p.m.). Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Foreign Secretary David Lammy meet.

Shmyhal thanked for the new package of military support. Last week Britain announced the provision of missiles for air defense worth 162 million pounds. The UK will also continue to provide military support of 3 billion pounds a year for as long as it is needed.

“I emphasized that we expect the UK to allow us to strike long-range weapons at military targets on the territory of our enemy. We also discussed providing Ukraine with air defense systems,” Shmyhal said.

The parties also discussed the situation in the Ukrainian energy sector and how partners can help.

“Thanks to the support of our partners, we are restoring what Russia destroyed and developing a decentralized generation. The UK will help in this matter. I emphasized the $50 billion in profits from frozen Russian assets that the G7 will transfer to Ukraine. We expect to receive the funds by the end of this year,” Shmyhal added.

(facebook.com/dshmyhal)

(12:02 p.m.) The New York Times, AFP, and Associated Press were the first to report the arrival. The journalists also published relevant photos and videos.

The officials arrived at the capital's railway station by train from Poland.

Former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who is now Ukraine's ambassador to the UK, is also present.

Photo: Blinken and Lammy in Kyiv (Getty Images)

Photo: Blinken and Lammy in Kyiv (Getty Images)

CBS reporter Olivia Gazis also posted a video of the two officials being greeted at the Kyiv railway station.

White House and State Department disclose the purpose of the visit

During his visit to Kyiv, Blinken plans to hear about the situation on the battlefield and discuss Ukraine's needs in the coming weeks and months as winter approaches, White House advisor John Kirby said during an online briefing.

According to him, the head of US diplomacy will reaffirm US support for Ukraine's efforts to defend itself and regain the territory seized by Russia.

He also said that there would be a discussion on the promotion of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's peace proposals.

Ending the war through negotiations is the most likely outcome in this case, he added. But when this will happen, as well as under what conditions and circumstances, President Zelenskyy will decide.

It is also expected that Blinken and Lammy will meet with senior Ukrainian government officials.

Will restrictions on using Western weapons to strike deep into Russia be lifted?

The US and UK foreign secretaries announced their visit to Kyiv during a joint press conference in London. On Tuesday, September 10, Blinken said that their trip would take place at a critical time for Ukraine.

He confirmed Iran's supply of short-range missiles to Moscow, which Russian President Vladimir Putin “is likely to use within weeks in Ukraine” and promised sanctions against Tehran for ignoring warnings. This includes restrictions on the state-owned airline Iran Air.

There were also reports that Blinken might announce in Kyiv that he would authorize Ukraine to strike Russia with Western long-range weapons. The Secretary of State himself said that US President Joe Biden “does not rule out” that the Ukrainian Armed Forces would be allowed to launch missiles deep into Russian territory.

Biden said that the United States is "working that out right now” to lift this ban. On September 13, he may discuss the matter with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.