US officials visit Kiev, Russia gives warning

Foreign Minister Russia Sergei Lavrov said on April 25 that the risk of a third world war was “serious”. “It’s true, you can’t take it lightly,” Lavrov said.

The top Russian diplomat also confirmed talks with Ukraine would continue but accused Kiev of “pretending” to negotiate. “You will see thousands of contradictions,” he said.

The Russian-Ukrainian conflict triggered a wave of support from Western nations and recorded arms pouring into Ukraine.

For months, President Volodymyr Zelensky has been asking Ukraine’s Western allies for heavy weapons – including artillery and fighter jets. A series of NATO countries have pledged to provide weapons and heavy equipment to Russia.

“The first step to winning is to believe you can win. We believe we can win – they can win – if they have the right equipment, the right support” – the stand Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said after he and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Mr. Zelensky in Kiev.

The tour by two of the top members of President Joe Biden’s cabinet comes as fighting continues across Ukraine.

The United States is the leading donor of finance and weapons for Ukraine It is also the main sponsor of sanctions against Russia. Before that, however, Washington did not send top officials to Kiev while several European leaders traveled to Ukraine to highlight their support.

Blinken and Austin also said that US diplomats will begin returning to Ukraine this week and announce additional military aid worth $700 million.