Russo-Ukrainian War: Top U.S. diplomat visits Kyiv

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, having arrived in Kyiv on Sunday, 24 April 2022, met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Rumours of US President Joe Biden accompanying both Blinken and Austin have been circulated.

"JUST IN: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he will meet U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Kyiv tomorrow," tweeted NPR on Saturday.

"President Zelenskyy announces at a press conference that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will soon visit in Kyiv," tweeted NPR White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez.

Blinken and Austin, respectively the US's top diplomat and defense chief, met with the Ukrainian president to discuss new military grade weapons deliveries. Neither the White House, The Department of State, nor the Pentagon were prepared to comment.

The US Secretary of State and the Defense Secretary, during their first visit to Kyiv since Russia's so-called "special military operation" began some two months ago, spoke at length about deliveries.

Zelenskyy, during a press conference held the previous evening, said, "As soon as we have [more weapons], as soon as there are enough of them, believe me, we will immediately retake this or that territory, which is temporarily occupied.”

Blinken and Austin being in Kyiv comes on the heels of various European leaders meeting with the Ukrainian president. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, taking a train into Kyiv, was recently photographed touring the war-torn city.

"Continued dialogue with [British] PM @BorisJohnson . Spoke about the opposition to RF’s aggression, situation in Mariupol. Thanked for the defence support & macro-financial aid. Discussed security guarantees for [Ukraine]. Appreciate the leadership of @BorisJohnson & [the United Kingdom] in supporting [Ukraine]!," tweeted the Ukrainian president.

Russian forces, with President Vladimir Putin watching everything extremely closely, are increasing their attacks. News of fresh missile attacks Odesa, killing civilians seeking to flee the war zone, are a daily occurrence. A recent attack on the southern city saw at least eight people, including an infant, killed.

"Ukrainian officials say a three-month-old child is among eight people who were killed in missile strikes in Odesa," Australia's SBS News tweeted. "Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Kyiv in the coming 24 hours."

There are reported no plans of Biden following in Johnson's footsteps. Even if there were, because of obvious security concerns, neither the White House, the US State Department, nor the Pentagon would officially comment on such a classified trip.

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Because of an apparent commitment to remaining neutral, on Sunday, 24 April 2022, the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs vetoed a request from Germany to re-export Swiss ammunition to Ukraine.

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is petitioning for more powerful Western weapons as he prepares to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in his war-torn country’s capital," tweeted The Associated Press.

Ukraine is struggling. Right now, with Russian forces seeking to gain a foothold in southern Ukraine, Ukraine could use all the military support it can get. Heavy weapons are useless without the ammunition used in them.

It was Germany's intent to supply Ukraine with ammunition used in Marder infantry vehicles. Rheinmetall's Marder, built in Germany, utilises ammunition manufactured in Switzerland. Switzerland, because of a long-standing neutrality policy, restricts the re-export of certain military grade materiel to conflict zones.

"Both of Germany's requests were answered in the negative with reference to Swiss neutrality and the mandatory rejection criteria of the war material legislation," a spokesperson for the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) said.

Neutrality isn't new for Switzerland. History shows this is true. Consequently, because of this, the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs blocking the re-export request wasn't surprising.

News that the request was blocked comes at a terrible time for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Scholz, both within his own political party and others, faces increasing criticism over his government's apparent failure to forfil promises made.

Delivery of promised weapons, even as the United Kingdom and the United States step to the plate, has been delayed. Delays suggest an inability to do the job. Military equipment from both the U.K. and the U.S. has already arrived in Ukraine. The U.S. already has plans in the works to send further military supplies to the war zone.