Poland's Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbignew Rau held a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The two diplomats discussed European security and support for Ukraine. As Blinken visited Kyiv on Wednesday (Sept. 6), Russian forces attacked a crowded market in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka, killing 16 people.
"The conversation between the top diplomats focused on the current security situation in Europe. It also concerned the coordination of the transatlantic community's actions to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s aggression," Poland's MFA said in a press release.
"The officials stressed that it is of key importance to maintain coherence, unity and solidarity of the entire international community, including the transatlantic one, in response to the Russian Federation's aggression," the statement added.
Furthermore, the MFA said, "the ministers also addressed the up-to-date items on the bilateral agenda".
"Regarding the state of Polish-American relations, they stressed that they are multidimensional and the best in history. The diplomats also discussed the involvement of both countries in the upcoming General Debate of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, scheduled for the second half of September, which will offer the opportunity to continue the multi-faceted dialogue between Poland and the US," we read.
Blinken's surprise visit to Kyiv
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal greeted on Wednesday (September 6) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his delegation in Kyiv.
During bilateral talks, the top U.S. official said the United States will continue to support Ukraine militarily and economically.
However, Blinken's visit was overshadowed by a Russian attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka which killed at least 16 people.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned the attack, saying a market, shops and a pharmacy had been struck in the industrial city close to the battlefield.
U.S. to announce wartime assistance
Blinken is likely to announce a new package of U.S. wartime assistance worth more than $1 billion, a senior State Department official told reporters on the trip.
"I am here in large part at the behest of President Biden to reaffirm our commitment to stand with you, to stand with you to help ensure that you succeed militarily in dealing with the aggression, but also to stand with you to make sure that your efforts to build a strong economy and a strong democracy succeed," Blinken said during a meeting with Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
He added that "all of those things, a military that is capable of deterring and defending against further aggression, but also strong a democracy and strong economy are the difference between a Ukraine that survives, which it will, and a Ukraine that thrives, which it must and can. And we will be your partners in that effort".
Together with Ukraine's foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Blinken visited Berkovetske cemetery in Kyiv to pay his respects to some of Ukraine's fallen soldiers.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, Reuters, gov.pl