Top US, British diplomats announce new aid for Ukraine

KYIV - Visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Wednesday announced new aid packages for Ukraine, local media reported.

Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv, Blinken said that the United States would provide more than 700 million US dollars for Ukraine in fresh assistance, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.

Of the sum, 325 million dollars will be directed for the restoration of energy and electric networks, 290 million dollars for humanitarian aid and 102 million dollars for humanitarian demining.

Blinken also informed that he had discussed with Ukrainian officials the use of long-range weapons.

For his part, Lammy announced that Britain will provide more than 600 million pounds (about 783 million US dollars) worth of support for Ukraine, the Ukrinform news agency reported.

The funding will be used to finance Ukraine's urgent humanitarian, energy and stabilization needs, and provide credit guarantees for Kyiv.

Blinken and Lammy arrived in Kyiv earlier in the day for a joint visit. The diplomats met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and senior government officials. They also took part in the fourth Crimea Platform Summit.