Russia is “failing in war aims” and Ukraine is “succeeding”, US secretary of state Antony Blinken has said.

       Mr Blinken was speaking after a trip to Kyiv, the highest-level American visit to the capital since Russia invaded in late February.

       He said at a news conference that a “sovereign, independent Ukraine” will be around “a lot longer than Russia’s Putin is on the scene.”

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       He described Russian forces as trying “to brutalise some parts of Ukraine”, adding: “But Ukrainians are standing strong”.

       Mr Blinken told reporters in Poland that Russia had pulled back its troops from around Kyiv and the north of Ukraine to focus on the eastern Donbas region.

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

       Mr Blinken’s comments come after the US announced around ￡235million in military financing for Ukraine, allowing them to buy more sophisticated air defence systems.

       The US has also approved a ￡129million sale of ammunition to Ukraine.

       Describing the reason for the high-level visit, a state department official said: “There’s no substitute for that face-to-face engagement, and of course there is a symbolism to being back in the country.”

       US secretary of defense Lloyd Austin (L) and US secretary of state Antony Blinken (R) meet with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky (C)

       (US Department of Defense/AFP)

       President Biden will soon announce his nominee to be ambassador to Ukraine, Mr Blinken said, and American diplomats who left the country before the war will start returning this week.

       In footage, released after Mr Blinken’s meeting with Mr Zelensky, the secretary of state praised the “extraordinary courage and leadership and success that you’ve had in pushing back this horrific Russian aggression.”

       “We got used to seeing you on video around the world, but it’s great, it’s good to see you in person,” Mr Blinken added.

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       According to the latest intelligence update from the UK’s ministry of defence, Russia is planning a “staged referendum” in Kherson in Ukraine.

       The update added that Kherson is “key” to Russia’s goal of “establishing a land bridge to Crimea and dominating southern Ukraine.”