Simon Lewis

POLISH/UKRAINIAN BORDER (Reuters). -Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the United States, and Dmytro Kuleba from Ukraine met at Ukraine’s frontier with Poland Saturday to discuss Western efforts for support to Ukraine and isolation Russia in this ongoing war.

Blinken, Kuleba and others held discussions in tight security at the border, where many refugees were crossing along with their luggage in rolling suitcases and backpacks.

They walked along the painted line, which appeared to indicate that they were marking the end of Polish land.

Blinken stated, “The whole world stands for Ukraine just like I stand here with my friend and my colleague in Ukraine,”

Kuleba stated: “I am hopeful that the Ukrainian people will take this to mean we have friends who are there for us.”

Kuleba stated that the two men discussed providing weapons to Ukraine as well as the campaign to attack Russia’s economy and isolate it internationally.

He stated that Ukraine will eventually win its war with Russia, but international support is needed to bring an end to the conflict earlier.

He said that Ukraine needs fighter planes and air defense system, as well as Stinger anti-aircraft guns from Western countries. He said that three Russian planes were downed by Ukrainian forces on Saturday.

“If they keep providing weapons to us, we will pay less.” He said that this will help save lives.

Kuleba stated that he did not see any progress in Russian talks on the ceasefire at Ukraine’s border to Belarus. However, he said “we must continue talking”. On Monday, a third round will be held.

RUSSIA’S PRESSURE: “WILL GROW”

Blinken had previously met the prime minister of Poland and foreign minister, and visited an asylum center.

Head of UN Refugee Agency, Peter Bochrovsky said that the number of refugees could reach 1.5 million within the next weekend. This is a significant increase from the current 1.3 million.

Blinken arrived in Poland on Friday from Brussels. He met the foreign ministers of NATO and G7 as well as the European Union to discuss West’s efforts against Russia with a program of severe sanctions.

Blinken claimed that sanctions are producing concrete results, referring to Russia’s recent economic losses. He said that the pressure on Russia will continue and grow “until this war of choices is ended”.

NATO member countries provide military assistance to Ukraine. Much of this aid passes through Poland. However, it declined to enforce the no-fly zones over Ukraine as this would lead to a more extensive and dangerous conflict.

Russia refers to its military operations as “a special operation”, whose purpose is to destroy Ukraine, stop NATO aggression, and capture the leaders of Ukraine it considers neo Nazis.