Blinken and Lammy Meet Zelenskiy in Kyiv

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British foreign minister David Lammy arrived in Kyiv for a series of meetings with senior Ukrainian government officials at a critical juncture in the war against Russia.

During a meeting with Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha, the two said they stood "shoulder to shoulder" with Ukraine.

Sybiha said he welcomed their attendance in person in "challenging" times.

Blinken and Lammy are expected to push Ukraine for more information on its strategic aims as they consider whether to give the go-ahead, according to Western sources.

There is nervousness in Washington and some European capitals that doing so would provoke Russia towards a direct conflict with the West, while officials also recognise that Ukraine needs more help if it is to swing the war in its favor.

With Kyiv at a critical juncture in its struggle against Russia, Blinken has said he wants to hear directly from Zelenskiy and others what Kyiv's goals in the war are and what Washington can do to help it achieve them.

Zelenskiy has been pleading with Kyiv's allies for months to allow Ukraine to fire Western missiles including long-range U.S. ATACMS and British Storm Shadows deep into Russian territory to limit Moscow's ability to launch attacks.

"This is the first time in well over a decade that a secretary of state from the U.S. and a foreign secretary in the UK have traveled together, and that is to reiterate our complete support for the Ukrainian struggle," said British foreign minister David Lammy.

Zelenskiy had said a "victory plan" he wanted to present to Joe Biden this month would strengthen Kyiv and have a "psychological" impact that could push Russia to end its war diplomatically.

Blinken and Lammy are expected to push Ukraine for more information on its strategic aims as they consider whether to give the go-ahead, according to Western sources.