Blinken In Kyiv As Major Focus On Scale Of Russia Kharkiv Offensive

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Kyiv for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid a potentially-sizeable Russian offensive on the northern border region, with fighting reported in the town of Vovchansk. Meeting in Kyiv, Zelenskyy thanked Blinken for the 'crucial' weapons package, but says Ukraine needs two air defence batteries for Kharkiv, and that air defence is 'Ukraine's biggest deficit'. Blinken claims that the next weapons package is already arriving, with more planned and 'That's going to make a difference'.

• Blinken says the US is determined that over time Ukraine will be independent 'economically, militarily, and democratically'.
• Conflicting reports emerging from Russian and Ukrainian outlets.
• Russian state media claims that the western and northern parts of Vovchansk are controlled by Russian forces, with street-to-street fighting taking place.
• Counter to this, a Ukrainian military report claims that the number of Russian attacks in the northern area of the Kharkiv oblast 'significantly decreased' on Tuesday and that the situation in Vovchansk is 'under control'.
• Vovchansk does not hold any particular strategic value, but its loss would come as a blow to Ukrainian morale. It would also set off fears of further advances by Russian forces in the weeks ahead, with the eventual prospect of the city of Kharkiv coming within range of Russian artillery.

Map of Frontlines in Ukraine