INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Ukraine on Thursday claimed a military breakthrough in its counter-offensive against Russian invaders as U.S
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on a surprise visit to Kyiv, unveiled another $2.8 billion in military aid.Ukraine said its forces made
seven months ago."Our heroes have already liberated dozens of settlements
And today this movement continued," said Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in an address to the nation."In total, more than a thousand
square kilometers (nearly 400 square miles) have been liberated since Sept
1," he said shortly after announcing the recapture of Balakliya in the eastern Kharkiv region, a town which fell to Russian forces in early
March.In the area around Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city, forces penetrated 50 kilometers (30 miles) beyond Russian lines and "liberated"
more than 20 towns and villages, senior military official Oleksiy Gromov said.Hoping to build on the momentum, Blinken secretly travelled to
Kyiv for his second trip during the war, passing through dark hallways with sandbags in the sealed presidential compound to meet President
Volodymyr Zelensky."It's very early, but we are seeing clear and real progress on the ground," Blinken said after spending more than two
hours with Zelensky.Blinken vowed the United States would keep up assistance "until the aggression ceases and Ukraine is fully sovereign"
clad in his now signature military-green T-shirt, presented a state award to Blinken as he voiced gratitude for the "enormous support" of
the United States.The aid "is a guarantee that we can return our territories," Zelensky said.The latest package includes $675 million to be
shipped shortly in arms, ammunition and supplies and another $1 billion in longer-term loans and grants for Ukraine to buy more US
Moldova and Georgia which both have breakaway regions backed by Moscow.A day after the United Nations said there were "credible reports"
a room with toy trucks and alien figurines, he arrived with a basket of stuffed animals, announcing, "I brought some friends.""The spirit of
your children sends a very strong message around the world," he said.'Accountability'Blinken later toured Irpin on the capital's outskirts
of resolve, President Joe Biden spoke by telephone with allied leaders about Ukraine and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met his counterparts
at Ramstein air base in Germany."Now, we're seeing the demonstrable success of our common efforts on the battlefield," Austin said.Amid
expected, estimating that GDP had fallen just over 1% year-on-year in the first six months of 2022.Russia's Central Bank expects a
contraction of four to six percent for the year, while Blinken cited an estimate of an even steeper drop."Unprecedented sanctions were
But their initiators did not achieve their main objective
increasingly been facing a crunch on military supplies with U.S
General Mark Milley said there was "significant consumption of munitions" by Ukraine that will need to be addressed by allies.Norway offered
160 Hellfire missiles and night-vision equipment, Germany offered winter supplies and The Netherlands joined Germany with demining
military aid to Ukraine since the invasion to $15.2 billion.Among the most efficient weapons sent by Washington are the HIMAR multiple
rocket launch systems, which are paired with GMLRS rockets that can reach targets up to 80 kilometers (50 miles) away.But Kyiv is seeking
fears the missiles could land in Russian territory, sparking an even bigger conflict."The range of the HIMARS is sufficient to meet the
needs of the Ukrainians as they are currently fighting," Milley said.
