Ukraine: Blinken makes surprise visit to Kyiv

The US State Department announced billions of dollars of new military aid as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced visit to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Thursday. 

In a statement, Blinken announced $2.8 billion (€2.8 billion) in additional assistance to Ukraine and neighboring countries. He reiterated Washington's commitment to supporting Kyiv "for as long as it takes."

Earlier, Blinken's department pledged more than $2 billion in additional long-term military assistance for Ukraine and 18 of its neighbors, including NATO members and regional security partners "most potentially at risk for future Russian aggression."

The State Department told the Associated Press that $1 billion of that would go to Ukraine, while the rest would be divided up among  Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, pending expected congressional approval.

"The secretary very much wanted to come on this trip now because it's such a consequential moment for Ukraine," an senior official travelling with Blinken said. It is his second visit to Kyiv since Russia invaded.

Here's a look at some of the other major news stories from Russia's war in Ukraine on September 8 

Ukraine needs more aid Ramstein summit told

Ukraine will need continued support as the war approaches a "pivotal moment," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said.

He was speaking at a US-lead meeting at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany where supporters of Ukraine were seeking donations for winter equipment as the conflict grinds on. 

"We need at least to be prepared for this winter, because there is no sign of Russia giving up its goal of taking control of Ukraine,'' Stoltenberg said. 

Ukraine used the summit to ask for cold weather equipment, on top of more weapons and ammunition.

Those attending the summit was told Ukraine was using its modern Western weapons to devastating effect.

General Mark Milley, the Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said hundreds of Russian targets have been targeted with the US-supplied HIMARS rocket system alone.

His boss US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin pledged long-term military support for Ukraine worth up to $675 million.

Austin said the defense package would include precision-guided GMLRS rockets, 105mm howitzers, artillery munitions, Humvees, armored ambulances, anti-tank systems and small firearms. 

You can read the full story on the talks at the US air base in Germany here.

Ukraine says its forces recaptured 20 villages in Kharkiv region

The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed forces said its forces had recaptured 20 villages from the Kharkiv region.

They wrote on Twitter that Ukrainian soldiers have broken through Russian lines in parts of the occupied region.

DW could not independently verify the claim, but it echoes a statement by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday. He said "the Ukrainian flag has returned" to part of the region.

Ukraine has been waging a counter-offensive in the country's south since last week.

Russian troops have partly occupied Kharkiv region since the start of the invasion launched on February 24.

Deadly bombardments have targeted the city of the same name, but Russian troops have not managed to seize it.

Poland joins Baltic states with Russian entry restrictions

Poland will join the Baltic states in restricting the entry of Russian nationals into its territory from September 19.

In a joint statement on Thursday, the prime ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland said it is "unacceptable that citizens of the aggressor-state are able to freely travel in the EU, whilst at the same time people in Ukraine are being tortured and murdered."

However, the restrictions will not apply to Russian dissidents, people visitng family members, holders of residence permits and diplomats.

"We want to significantly limit the entry of Russian citizens whose goal is tourism," Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas added.

Belarus begins military drills on Polish border 

Armed forces in Belarus have begun military exercises in the city of Brest, near the border with Poland, as well as in Minsk and Vitebsk.

The country’s Defense Ministry said on Thursday that the drills will practice "liberating territory" temporarily seized by an unspecified "enemy." 

The drills are set to last until September 14, but are not large enough to require prior notification of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Belarusian authorities added.

More on the conflict in Ukraine on DW

Russia was accused of forcing large numbers of Ukrainians, who were not involved in combat, into detention camps and even prisons using a Kremlin-directed "filtration" program.

In his nightly video address, President Zelenskyy hinted at success in the Ukrainian military's counter-offensive in the eastern region by referring to "good news from the Kharkiv region".

According to Russian war correspondents, the Ukrainian army has been advancing successfully near the town of Balakliya, recapturing several villages since earlier this week.

zc/wmr (AP, AFP, Reuters)