U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland arrives in Kyiv
Photo: Victoria Nuland, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State (Getty Images)
Today, January 31, U. S. Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland arrived in Kyiv for a working visit. This marks her second visit to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, informs U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink.
"I congratulate Victoria Nuland on her return to Ukraine. Today, we will meet with the country's senior leadership, veterans, and civil society to underscore our shared commitment to defeating Russian aggression in Ukraine."
Photo: U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland has arrived in Ukraine (twitter.com/USAmbKyiv)
During her previous visit in early December 2022, Nuland spent two days in Ukraine, meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak, various ministers, top officials, and deputies, representatives of civil society, as well as private businesses developing high-tech solutions for the Ukrainian army.
"Ukraine is winning this war, Putin is losing it, and we support you. It was important for me to tell all our Ukrainian colleagues and friends that yes, they are fighting, and we support them for Ukraine to survive and prosper. But it is also a guarantee of preserving freedom; Ukraine is fighting for all of us," Nuland said after her previous visit.
Issues with U.S. aid to Ukraine
Nuland's visit to Ukraine comes at a time when the U.S. Congress has been unable to approve President Biden's request for additional funding for aid to Ukraine for several months. Currently, the Pentagon lacks funds for new military aid packages, with the last one announced at the end of the previous year.
The problem lies in the fact that the Republican Party, which holds the majority in the lower house of Congress, is demanding strict measures from the Biden administration to protect the U.S.-Mexico border from illegal migrants from South American countries. In exchange for this, Republicans are willing to support the allocation of funds for Ukraine. Negotiations are currently ongoing between the White House and Congress.
Recently, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the consequences of delaying aid to Ukraine are already evident on the battlefield.
U.S. developing new strategy to support Ukraine
Last Saturday, The Washington Post reported that, according to its information, the Biden administration is working on a new strategy to support Ukraine in the war against Russia.
According to the media outlet, the new White House plan sharply differs from last year when the U.S. and allies hoped for the swift displacement of Russian forces from Ukrainian territories.
Currently, the idea is for Ukraine to maintain its position on the battlefield but become significantly stronger by the end of 2024.
