Patricia Zengerle. Humeyra Pamuk. Doina Chacu

WASHINGTON (Reuters). – Washington and Ukraine have “largely aligned” on which military equipment Ukraine should use to fight the Russian invasion, U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken stated Tuesday.

Blinken informed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he had discussed these needs with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zilenskiy during their trip to Ukraine with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Sunday, which was the first U.S. official visit since the invasion by Russia on February 24.

Blinken said that he believes they are in a good place when it comes to what the people need and what they think they can do.

Blinken also stated that weapons were delivered faster. Blinken used to say that it took weeks to deliver military equipment to Ukraine. It often takes 72 hours to get military equipment from President Joe Biden’s request for it to Ukraine, he stated.

While the United States does not plan to send its forces or NATO troops to Ukraine, Washington has supplied weaponry to Kyiv from its European allies, such as Howitzer heavy artillery and drones.

Volodymyr Zeleskiy, Ukrainian President, repeatedly requested heavier weapons in an effort to repel Russia’s so-called “special operation.”

Blinken said that U.S. diplomats are returning to Lviv, Ukraine this week. The department will begin to evaluate how secure they can reopen Kyiv’s embassy.

Russia called on the United States Monday to stop sending arms to Ukraine. The warning came after it was revealed that huge Western weapons deliveries had aggravated the conflict, and led to greater losses.