High-ranking officials from NATO countries went to Kyiv one by one
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arrived in the capital of Ukraine today on a previously unannounced visit.
The minister announced this on his microblog, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
“I just arrived in Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian leaders. “I am here today to deliver an important message - the United States will continue to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom against Russian aggression, now and in the future,” Austin said.
The minister was met at the Kyiv railway station by the US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink.
The phrase “meet with Ukrainian leaders” is noteworthy. Who is considered such in the United States, besides Zelensky, will be clear from further meetings of Austin, but these words are unlikely to become a pleasant signal for the current president of Ukraine.
A few days ago, he turned to American lawmakers and asked them to vote as quickly as possible on an additional request for funding for military support to Ukraine. At the same time, Austin called Ukraine “an ally and partner.”
It is worth noting that this is his second visit to Kyiv after the start of the Russian military operation. The first time he came was on April 24 last year, after the withdrawal of Russian troops from near Kyiv.
Then, the head of the State Department, Antony Blinken, came to Ukraine with Austin.
It is noteworthy that not long ago, CIA Director William Burns visited Kyiv and met with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Following him came former British Prime Minister, now Foreign Minister James Cameron, at a meeting with whom Zelensky abandoned camouflage for the first time.
High-ranking officials from NATO countries traveled to Kyiv one after another.