Blinken Signals US Support For Ukraine With Border Meeting

Senior US diplomat meets with Ukrainian counterpart at border with Poland
Blinken said that support for Ukraine will grow
Blinken held talks with the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland

POLISH-UKRAINIAN BORDER, March 5 – U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba met Saturday on Ukraine’s border with Poland to discuss Western efforts to support Ukraine and isolate Russia during the current 10-year war th time. day.

Under heavy security conditions, Blinken and Kuleba held talks in a tent at the border, where refugees, mostly women and children, also crossed the border, with their belongings in suitcases on wheels and backpacks.

The two men walked on either side of a drawn line that seemed to mark the end of Polish territory.

“The whole world supports Ukraine, just as I stand here in Ukraine with my friend, my colleague,” Blinken said.

Kuleba added: “I hope the people of Ukraine can see this as a clear sign that we have friends who literally support us.”

According to Kuleba, they discussed the supply of arms to Ukraine and the campaign to isolate Russia internationally and damage its economy through sanctions.

Ukraine will eventually win the war with Russia, he said, but its international supporters need more help to end the conflict faster.

Ukraine is particularly in need of fighter jets and air defense systems, he said, adding that Western-provided Stinger anti-aircraft systems are helping. On Saturday, Ukrainian forces shot down three Russian planes, he said.

“If they continue to supply us with the necessary weapons, the price will be lower. This will save many lives,” he said.

Kuleba said he sees no progress in negotiations with Russia on a ceasefire on Ukraine’s border with Belarus, but “we must continue negotiations.” The third round is scheduled for Monday.

PRESSURE ON RUSSIA “WILL GROW”

Earlier, Blinken met with the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland and visited a refugee center.

By the end of the weekend, the number of refugees could rise to 1.5 million from the current 1.3 million, the head of the UN refugee agency said on Saturday.

Blinken arrived in Poland from Brussels, where on Friday he met with foreign ministers from the NATO alliance, the G7 and the European Union to discuss Western efforts to contain Russia through a program of tough sanctions.

Blinken said the sanctions had brought “concrete results,” referring to the damage done to the Russian economy in recent days. “This pressure will not only continue, but will grow until this war of choice is stopped,” he said.

NATO members provide Ukraine with military assistance, most of which passes through Poland. But he rejected Ukrainian demands for a no-fly zone over the country, saying it could spark a much wider and even more dangerous conflict.

Russia describes its actions as a “special military operation” aimed at disarming Ukraine, countering what it sees as NATO aggression, and capturing Ukrainian leaders it calls neo-Nazis. More

Reporting by Simon Lewis; Editing by Gareth Jones

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