U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Russia has failed to achieve its war objectives in Ukraine, while the latter has succeeded in standing strong in this devastating war.

Blinken added during a press conference held today, Monday, near the Polish-Ukrainian border, that "Russia sought to seize Ukraine’s sovereignty and strip its independence, but it failed," according to international media.
 

He pointed out that independent sovereign Ukraine will exist longer than the time Russian President Vladimir Putin remains in power in Russia.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that "it is clear that the nature of the fighting in Ukraine has evolved in recent weeks."

He warned that Ukraine now needs long-range weapons.

Austin added that Ukraine's needs are changing with the evolution of the nature of the fighting, partly due to the shift of focus to the eastern part of the country, so Ukrainians need long-range weapons.

He added: "We are doing everything we can to provide them with the types of support, artillery, and ammunition that will be effective."

He confirmed that his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was very fruitful, saying he offered his condolences to the latter for the killing of many civilians and the forces that made tremendous efforts to repel the advance of Russian forces.

He expressed admiration for the professionalism of the Ukrainian forces in defending their country.

The U.S. Secretaries of State and Defense arrived in Kyiv yesterday on the first visit by U.S. officials to Ukraine since the start of the Russian operation against Ukraine.