By The Diary
Sep 11, 2024, 7:32 PM EDT
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday announced $717 million in new economic and humanitarian aid for Ukraine, including assistance to enable kyiv to restore its energy infrastructure in the face of Russian attacks.
“As we meet here today, we see (Russian President Vladimir) Putin again dusting off his winter playbook, targeting Ukrainian power and electricity systems to weaponize the cold against the Ukrainian people,” Blinken said at a news conference alongside his British counterparts, David Lammy, and Andri Sibiga, of Ukraine.
Humanitarian support for Ukraine
That’s why the United States will provide $325 million in new funding to help repair Ukraine’s energy and power grid, he said.
Blinken also announced $290 million in new humanitarian support to help provide vital services like clean water, food, shelter and medicine to “millions of people in Ukraine and across the region who have been displaced by Putin’s war.”
“We remain committed to Ukraine”
The top U.S. diplomat revealed over $102 million in additional funding for humanitarian demining to help remove landmines and unexploded ordnance left behind by Russia in Ukraine.
“We remain fully committed to Ukraine’s victory, not only to ensuring that Ukraine can defend itself today, but that it can stand on its own two feet, militarily, economically and democratically, for many, many days to come,” he stressed.
“We want Ukraine to win, and we are fully committed to continuing to rally the support needed for its brave defenders and citizens to do so,” he added.
“Putin will not survive the coalition of committed countries”
The United Kingdom also announced new aid of more than 600 million pounds (710 million euros) for Ukraine.
To date, 50 countries have provided more than $100 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since February 2022 and continue to materially support Ukraine today.
“Our message, our collective message to Putin is clear: Our support will not wane. Our unity will not break. Putin will not outlive the coalition of countries committed to Ukraine’s success, and he will certainly not outlive the Ukrainian people,” Blinken stressed.
Zelensky thanks for support
President Volodymyr Zelensky met with officials to discuss aid issues and to thank his country for the support it has received since the war broke out in 2022.
“Particular attention was paid to the preparation of the second Peace Summit and to the steps necessary to make the Summit effective,” he wrote in X. “I am grateful for the unwavering support for our independence, the defense of Ukraine and the protection of the lives of our people.”
With information from Deutsche Welle
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