During a surprise visit to Kyiv, the United States' chief diplomat, Antony Blinken, announced a significant increase in aid to Ukraine, exceeding $1 billion. Blinken stated that this aid package aims to bolster Ukraine's counteroffensive efforts and help them gain momentum.

U.S. has already provided more than $40 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia's invasion last year, which includes essential weaponry for countering Russian forces.

Secretary of State Blinken revealed that this new assistance comprises over $665.5 million in military and civilian security aid. Additionally, he highlighted efforts to work with Ukraine on finding alternative grain shipment routes following the breakdown of the Black Sea grain export deal in July, which posed risks to shipping.

Ukraine, which has been seeking increased Western support, initiated a counteroffensive against Russian forces in June, bolstered by assault battalions and Western-supplied weaponry. The offensive has faced challenges, including heavily fortified Russian defensive positions and minefields. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba emphasized that U.S. assistance is not a mere act of charity but a strategic partnership that enables Ukraine to resist Russian aggression without putting American lives at risk.

Blinken stressed that the newly announced aid will not only sustain Ukraine's counteroffensive but also help it gain further momentum. Kuleba expressed gratitude to the United States for facilitating the transfer of F-16 fighter jets from other countries to bolster Ukraine's air defense capabilities, a request made by Kyiv to protect its airspace.

Blinken's unanticipated visit to Kyiv, his fourth since Russia's invasion, occurred shortly after a Russian airstrike in Donetsk's eastern region killed seventeen people and left dozens wounded at a local market.