The head of state noted the importance of discussing security issues with the US Secretary of State in these difficult times.Vladimir Zelensky and Anthony Blinken / photo REUTERS

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky at a meeting with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced the need to provide assistance for the modernization of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The video of the meeting between the US President and the US Secretary of State in the Office of the President on Bankova Street was published on the website of the 24 channel .

The President of Ukraine noted that the visit of the US Secretary of State to Ukraine is very important.

“This once again underlines the strong support for our independence, the sovereignty of the country by the United States of America. I want to say that we highly appreciate our constant contacts,” Zelensky said.

The President noted that the intensity of contacts is evidence not of words, but of concrete support.

“I would like to thank you personally, and President Biden, and the United States administration for your support, military assistance to Ukraine, for increasing this assistance, for the assistance that is already being provided by the United States, and I am sure that this support will continue in the future. It speaks not only about our strategic plans for Ukraine’s entry into the Alliance, but most importantly, it seems to me, about the level of our army, the security of our army,” Zelensky said.

The President added that the maximum funds are allocated in the budget to support the Ukrainian army for all the years of Ukraine’s independence.

“We understand that in order to take very fast steps to modernize the army, we need help, especially help in such difficult times. I think that because these are very difficult times, the agenda of our conversation is, first of all, a question I would also like to raise some economic issues that depend on the security situation,” Zelensky stressed.

Zelensky also said that intelligence in the United States is excellent, but in Ukraine they know a little deeper the situation in their own state.

“I would like to say some things in detail, so your intelligence is excellent, but you are far beyond the ocean, and we are here. I think we know some things a little deeper about our state,” Zelensky said.

US Secretary of State Blinken in Ukraine: Details 

As UNIAN reported,  on January 19, Blinken arrived in Kiev .

In addition to meeting with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, he will meet with Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. The talks will focus on practical US support for Ukraine and active diplomatic efforts to resolve the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict.

Blinken was also scheduled to meet with family members and staff at the US Embassy in Ukraine to “report on the State Department’s contingency planning efforts should Russia choose to further escalate.”

(C)UNIAN 2022