US Is to Step up Support for Ukraine - Department of State

Official Kiev needs help, since it has to fight both external and internal enemies, Blinken said. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the States intend to increase support for Ukraine in several directions at once. This was stated in the speech of the head of the State Department at a hearing at the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives of the US Congress. Thus, according to Blinken, Kiev will receive additional assistance to strengthen the security and economic spheres, as well as democratic institutions and the fight against corruption. “We firmly support Ukraine, we intend to strengthen this support both in the field of security and economy, and in terms of its own efforts aimed at strengthening democracy in the country,” the Secretary of State stressed. At the same time, he explained that Ukraine has to resist external aggression and at the same time solve internal problems, including corruption. Finally, Blinken reiterated that the United States does not recognize the annexation of Crimea and opposes the "Russian aggression in the Donbass." Earlier, the United States handed to Ukrainian sailors as support over ten speed boats, more than 70 inflatable boats and other related equipment "on the way to a free and independent Ukraine."