Star Metro - Blinken boosts aid on Ukraine visit as US sees battlefield wins

The latest package includes $675 million to be shipped shortly in arms, ammunition and supplies, $1 billion in longer-term loans and grants for Ukraine to buy more US equipment and an equivalent amount for purchases by neighbouring countries seen as threatened by Russia.

Blinken, paying his second trip to Kyiv since Russia invaded in February, met Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and started his visit by touring a hospital for children who have suffered in the war.

In a room with toy trucks and alien figurines, Blinken arrived with a basket of stuffed animals.

"I brought some friends," Blinken told the children.

"The spirit of your children sends a very strong message around the world," he said, as a mother told him, "Thank you for supporting Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine."

Blinken also knelt down to pat Patron, a fabled Jack Russel terrier that has helped Ukraine's military find more than 200 mines laid by Russian forces.

- Allies pledge support -

As Blinken was heading secretly to Kyiv, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin gathered with allies at the Ramstein air base in Germany to discuss support for Kyiv.

"Now, we're seeing the demonstrable success of our common efforts on the battlefield," Austin said, stressing that allies are in it "for the long haul".

The meeting came hours after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said his forces had recaptured several settlements in the northeastern Kharkiv region from the Russians.

Ukraine has also claimed it had retaken several villages in the south of the country where it has been waging a counter-offensive since last week.

Kyiv has repeatedly urged its allies for more heavy weapons as it pursues its pushback. Prime Minister Denys Shmygal reiterated the request when he visited Germany on Sunday.

Germany and the Netherlands said at Ramstein that they would start training and equipping Ukrainian soldiers on demining.

German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht said her country will also be sending over material for power generation and winter equipment, with both sides bracing for fighting in the bitter cold.

Among the issues raised at Ramstein are the restocking of arms, as "there is a significant consumption of munitions" in the war, said top US General Mark Milley.

Having already exhausted all its Russian-made armaments, Ukraine is now entirely dependent on Western military support.

Russia, under heavy sanctions, is meanwhile turning to North Korea for huge quantities of rocket and artillery shells, said Washington.

- 'More effective' -

The United States has been Ukraine's biggest armaments supplier.

Its latest package would include 105mm howitzers, precision-guided GMLRS rockets and artillery ammunition.

This brings the US military aid to Ukraine since February 24 to $15.2 billion worth of various weapons, including anti-tank Javelin missiles and shells compatible with NATO's artillery systems.

Among the most efficient weapons sent lately by Washington are the HIMAR multiple rocket launch systems, paired with GMLRS rockets that can reach targets up to 80 kilometres (50 miles) away.

But Kyiv is seeking ATACMS -- precision-guided, medium range tactical missile that can be launched by the HIMAR systems and which are capable of striking at 300 kilometres.

The United States has so far refused, as it fears the missiles could land in Russian territory, sparking an even bigger conflict.

"Right now, the policy of the United States government is that we're not sending ATACMS," Milley said.

"The range of the HIMARS is sufficient to meet the needs of the Ukrainians as they are currently fighting," he added.

- Russia taking Ukrainian children -

Zelensky has declined to name the settlements recaptured by Kyiv forces, but the US Institute for the Study of War, which follows in detail the fighting, said the Ukraine counterattack was near Balakliya and probably drove Russian forces back to the north side of the Siverskyi Donets and Serednya Balakliika rivers.

It appeared Ukraine forces also recaptured Verbivka and that Russian forces may have destroyed bridges to prevent Ukrainian fighters from pursuing them, it said.

"Russia's deployment of forces from Kharkiv and eastern Ukraine to Ukraine's south is likely enabling Ukrainian counterattacks of opportunity," it said.

The Russian army said it continued to inflict "heavy losses" on Ukrainian armed forces, in its daily briefing on Thursday.

In the territories occupied by Russian forces, the United Nations said there were "credible accusations" that Ukrainian children were being forcibly taken to Russia.

But Russian UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya called the allegations unfounded and said what was labelled "filtration" was simply registering Ukrainians willingly fleeing the war to Russia.

W.Richard--SMC