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US Chargé d’Affaires in Ukraine Kristina Kvien speaking in front of the US Embassy in Kiev on Sunday
Top US diplomat in Ukraine Kristina Kvien and her team arrived in Kiev on Sunday, US officials said.
The visit comes after Secretary of State Antony Blinken promised last month during a visit to Kiev the reopening of the US embassy in the Ukrainian capital soon.
The move is the latest step towards resuming full US activity in Kiev after diplomats began returning to the western city of Lviv last month. They had fled the country before the start of the Russian aggression on February 24 due to security concerns.
The visit, which takes place on Sunday to coincide with Victory Day in World War II, is temporary and does not signal the reopening of the embassy, a senior State Department official said. Russia celebrates Monday the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 and the end of World War II.
Secretary Blinken spoke with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Sunday and informed him that a small group led by Charge d’Affaires Kvien “went to Kiev for diplomatic engagement before the planned resumption of the Embassy in Kiev,” he said. in a statement State Department spokesman Ned Price.
The team is the first delegation from President Biden’s administration to visit the Ukrainian capital since the Russian invasion began, in addition to a visit by Mr Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
“The secretary told his team and Foreign Minister Kuleba that our return to Kiev is a testament to Ukraine’s success, Moscow’s failure and our effective and sustained partnership with the government and people of a sovereign, democratic and free Ukraine.” said the senior State Department official.
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