U.S. ready to increase defense aid to Ukraine, Blinken assures Kuleba

12.01.2022 10:10

Ukrinform

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Bliknen assured his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba of the United States' readiness to strengthen defense support for Ukraine, as well as to take other resolute steps to deter Russia should the latter resort to another act of aggression against its neighbor.

This is stated in an official statement of the U.S. Department of State, released on Tuesday following a phone call of the two top diplomats, Ukrinform reports.

"He (Blinken - ed.) reiterated that if Russia chooses the path of further conflict, the United States and our Allies and partners are prepared to impose enormous costs on Russia’s economy, to reinforce NATO’s presence in frontline Allied states, and to increase defensive assistance to Ukraine," the statement reads.

In addition, it is reported that the U.S. Secretary of State and the Foreign Minister of Ukraine discussed the outcome of the U.S.-Russia Strategic Stability Dialogue in Geneva, as well as further joint steps ahead of the NATO-Russia Council in Brussels.

As Ukrinform reported, Antony Blinken and Dmitry Kuleba had a phone call on Tuesday.

According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the parties discussed the implementation of a comprehensive package to deter Russia from further aggression.