US defence officials visit Kyiv for top secret war meeting, major moves announced

Russia has unleashed a series of attacks on Ukraine in response to secret meetings that were revealed overnight that could change the game.

Russia has unleashed a series of attacks on Ukraine, targeting at least five railway stations along with other sites in response to secret meetings that were revealed overnight.

Ukraine received a huge boost in its battle against Russia after a visit to Kyiv by high-level US defence officials in a top secret and high-risk meeting that was taken by rail.

As the war enters its third month, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin announced the trip after leaving the battered country and entering Poland, near the Ukrainian border.

The pair travelled to Kyiv on Sunday by train from south-western Poland but kept details of the trip brief. It is the first visit by top American representatives to Ukraine since Russia invaded.

Shards of twisted metal from a Russian rocket are seen in undergrowth near a train line on April 25, 2022 near Lviv, Ukraine. Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images

A rail worker looks at the shards of twisted metal from a Russian rocket from fields near a train line on April 25, 2022 near Lviv, Ukraine. Picture:Leon Neal/Getty Images

Amid the meeting and as air raid sirens sounded across the country, they unveiled a new set of drastic plans to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Presidential Palace in a bid to “weaken” Russia, with new weapons to be delivered in days.

They said Russia continues to suffer significant military capability losses and “a lot of its troops quite frankly”.

Russian forces hit five railway stations in central and western Ukraine within an hour of each other on Monday morning in order to “systematically destroy railway infrastructure,” Oleksandr Kamyshin, chairman of Ukrzaliznytsia, Ukraine’s state railway company.

“Casualties have been reported, we clarify the details,” Kamyshin said.

A humanitarian corridor to evacuate civilians trapped at the besieged steel plant in the port city of Mariupol had also failed, according to Ukraine officials.

US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin (L) and Secretary of State Antony Blinken (R) meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) in Kyiv. Picture: US Department of Defence

Pallets of aid to Ukraine are stacked behind Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (R) and Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) as they speak with reporters after returning from their trip to Kyiv in Poland near the Ukraine border. Picture: Alex Brandon / AFP

Later at the press conference, Blinken said: “We had an opportunity to demonstrate directly our strong ongoing support for the Ukrainian government and for the Ukrainian people.

“This was, in our judgment, an important moment for us to be there, an important moment for Ukraine, for the war.

“An important moment to have face to face conversations in detail about the extraordinary support we have provided … as well as the massive pressure that we have been exerting on Russia.

“And then to talk in detail about how we carry that forward”.

He said Zelensky expressed “deep appreciation”, with pictures captured of the meeting showing hugs and handshakes all around.

“We expressed deep admiration for his leadership and for the extraordinary courage of Ukrainians in standing up to and pushing back Russian aggression.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L), watches as Secretary of State Antony Blinken embraces Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Picture: US Department of Defence /

Zelensky (L), shakes hands with lieutenant general Randy George, military assistant to Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin. Picture: US Department of Defence

Blinken announced a major move that will see American diplomats return to Ukraine next week including new Ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, who is currently the U.S. Ambassador to Slovakia. There is also talk of reopening the American embassy in Ukraine.

It comes despite continued Russian attacks on the besieged port city of Mariupol, Kharkiv and the entire Luhansk region, according to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Blinken confirmed Russia “continues to brutalise parts of the country” and the “death and destruction is horrific”.

Saw the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people firsthand during my visit to Kyiv with @SecDef Austin. During our meeting with President @ZelenskyyUA, we reaffirmed our unwavering support for Ukraine as it withstands Russian aggression.

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) April 25, 2022

Russia’s Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said in response that Moscow has sent a diplomatic note to Washington demanding the US stop sending military aid to Ukraine.

The United States has ignored the request, pushing forward with a massive US strategy, in combination with 30 other countries, which “is having real results”.

“When it comes to Russia’s war games, Russia is failing, Ukraine is succeeding,” Blinken said.

“The bottom line is this: We don’t know how the rest of the war will unfold but we do know that a sovereign, independent Ukraine will be around a lot longer than Vladimir Putin is on the scene.

“Our support will continue until we see final success”.

Blinken and Austin announced during the trip the gradual return of US diplomats to Ukraine starting "this week", a senior state department official said. Picture: US Department of Defense

Austin gave more insights into the “productive” meeting, Describing how he told President Zelensky they will give Ukraine as “much as quickly as possible.

“Our focus was to talk about those things that will win the current fight and also build for tomorrow,” he said.

“We want to see Russia weakened to the degree that it can’t do the kinds of things that it has done in invading Ukraine.

“We want to see them not have the capability to very quickly reproduce that capability.”

How #Ukraine welcomed the heads of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Defense. pic.twitter.com/iVu8o6WZ1g

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) April 25, 2022

Austin also informed Zelensky that the U.S. Department of Defence will expand military training for Ukrainian service members in the region on “certain weapons systems being provided”.

The United States also pledged another almost $1b in additional military aid; a total of $713 million for Ukraine and 15 allied and partner countries.

“More than $322 million in this obligation is for Ukraine and will provide support for the capabilities Ukraine needs as Russia’s forces train their focus on the Donbas; this assistance will also help Ukraine’s armed forces transition to more advanced weapons and air defence systems,” a statement from Blinken’s office said.

“This assistance will also help NATO allies with backfilling capabilities they have donated to Ukraine from their own stockpiles.