First part of $200 million U.S. defence aid arrives in Ukraine

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv, Ukraine January 19, 2022. Alex Brandon/Pool via REUTERS



KYIV (Reuters) - The first shipment of the United States' $200 million security support package for Ukraine arrived in Kyiv, the U.S. Embassy said on Saturday.

The delivery followed U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Kyiv this week amid concerns from Kyiv and its Western allies over tens of thousands of Russian troops amassed at the border with Ukraine. Russia denies planning a new military offensive.

Washington approved the $200 million package in December.

"The United States will continue providing such assistance to support Ukraine's Armed Forces in their ongoing effort to defend Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity against Russian aggression," it said on Facebook.

Ukraine’s defence minister thanked the United States for the aid.

(Reporting by Natalia Zinets, Editing by Louise Heavens)