On Kyiv visit, Blinken, Austin pledge return of U.S. diplomats, more security aid

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal (not pictured) attend a meeting at State Department, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Washington, U.S., April 22, 2022. Susan Walsh/Pool via REUTERS

SOUTHEASTERN POLAND (Reuters) -Washington's top diplomat and its defense secretary visited Kyiv on Sunday, using the first official U.S. visit to Ukraine since Russia invaded two months ago to announce a gradual return of U.S. diplomats and the nomination of a new ambassador.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin traveled to Poland on Saturday and took a train the following day into Ukraine, where they met President Volodomyr Zelenskiy and other top Ukrainian officials.