Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured on Tuesday in Kyiv that US military aid, which has already begun flowing to Ukraine, is “making a big difference” on the battlefield. “We know this is a difficult time. But we also know that help is on the way, some have already arrived, and the rest will come. And this help will make a big difference on the battlefield,” Blinken promised after a meeting with Vladimir Zelensky. The surprise visit by the head of American diplomacy is intended to reassure continued full U.S. support for Ukraine at a particularly difficult time, when Russia has just opened a new front in the Kharkiv region, putting even more pressure on depleted Ukrainian forces. Zelensky thanked the United States for its support and again asked to strengthen air defense systems to protect the population. “We need two more Patriot batteries in Kharkov, where civilians and military personnel are under constant fire from Russian missiles,” he called. The Kiev government said on Tuesday there were signs of “stabilization” in the Kharkiv region with Ukrainian forces blocking most Russian offensives, but warned there were signs a similar offensive was being prepared further north in the Sumy region. for the further division of the Kyiv troops.
Putin in China
Vladimir Putin begins a two-day visit to China on Thursday to deepen the “unrestricted partnership” between the two countries.
Minimizing losses
Russia’s new Defense Minister Andrei Belousov says the main goal is to ensure victory in Ukraine with a “minimum of losses.”
Kharkov attack
At least 17 people were injured in a Russian airstrike on a 12-story building in central Kharkov on Tuesday.