US arms delivery to Ukraine helps stabilize frontline, Blinken says

CHISINAU, Moldova — The delivery of U.S. weapons to Ukraine helps stabilize the battlefield's front line, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday, adding that Washington was working hard to provide more air defenses to Ukraine.

Blinken, speaking at a news conference in the Moldovan capital, said support for Ukraine makes it clear to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he cannot outlast Ukraine.

America's top diplomat landed in Chisinau earlier Wednesday, the first stop on a brief European tour aimed at shoring up Western support for Ukraine with NATO allies and neighboring countries.

Ukraine is trying to repel intensifying Russian attacks in the east and President Vladimir Putin has warned that allowing kyiv to use Western weapons to strike inside Russia could trigger a global conflict.

Blinken said Russia took advantage of the delay in passing a $61 billion U.S. arms program for Ukraine, but said the weapons were now ending up on the battlefield and making a difference .

“We see that this is having real effects, including stabilizing the front,” he said.

At the news conference with Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Blinken praised what he called the country's extraordinary resilience despite Russia's “intimidation,” efforts to spread disinformation and weaponize corruption.

“What is so powerful here is the deep, deep-rooted commitment to democracy… And that in the face of Russia's bullying, interference, efforts to spread misinformation, disinformation , weaponizing corruption and fabricating anti-government protests,” he said.

“Despite this, we have seen extraordinary resilience from Moldovan leaders, and especially from the population. »

He said President Joe Biden's administration is working with the U.S. Congress to provide an additional $50 million to Moldova to advance efforts he says will help the country resist Russian interference, including through through reforms in the energy and agriculture sectors and by further combatting disinformation.