World News: Top US officials to visit Kyiv Sunday, discuss heavy weapons, Ukraine says – Gulf Digital News

World News: Top US officials to visit Kyiv Sunday, discuss heavy weapons, Ukraine says – Gulf Digital News

KYIV: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin were to visit Kyiv on Sunday to discuss Ukraine's request for more powerful weapons after months of combat with invading Russian forces.

The visit, announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Saturday, would be the highest-level visit by U.S. officials to the country since the start of the war on Feb. 24.

The White House has not confirmed any travel plans for Blinken and Austin. The State Department and Pentagon declined comment.

As the war enters its third month, there is no end in sight to the fighting that has shocked the world, killed thousands, uprooted millions and reduced cities to rubble.

"Tomorrow we will discuss this exact list of weapons that are essential for us and the pace of deliveries," Zelenskiy told a dramatic Saturday evening news conference in an underground metro station.

"We would like to have... powerful heavy weapons. As soon as we have (more weapons), as soon as there are enough of them, believe me, we will immediately retake this or that territory, which is temporarily occupied."

Zelenskiy's comments came as Russia resumed its assault on defenders making a last stand in a giant steel works in Mariupol, days after