His trip comes as Ukraine has launched counter-offensives aimed at retaking Russian-held areas in the south and northeast of the country. It also coincides with a meeting of the Defense Contact Group on Ukraine, hosted by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
Both Austin and Blinken visited Ukraine in late April. They remain the highest-ranking US officials to have traveled to the country since the war began in late February. Many heads of state have gone to Ukraine to meet with its president Volodymyr Zelensky. US President Joe Biden has yet to travel there, although the two leaders have spoken by phone in recent weeks.
According to the State Department, Blinken also went briefly to Ukraine when he met at the Kuleba border in March.
The Biden administration has pledged continued support to Ukraine and committed more than $13 billion in security assistance since the conflict began. Austin announced a new tranche of $675 million on Thursday. In addition, Blinken is expected to announce Thursday that the United States intends to provide $2 billion to bolster the security of Ukraine and 18 other regional countries.
This story is breaking and will be updated.
