Kuleba took Blinken to McDonald’s (video)
During the first day of his visit to Kyiv on Wednesday, September 6, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken visited a McDonald’s restaurant with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, whose chain reopened in Ukraine a year ago after being closed due to the full-scale invasion of Russia.
“The return of McDonald’s to Ukraine has become a symbol of the return of American business, as well as confidence that it is possible to create big business in Ukraine and be with people in difficult and important moments of their lives,” Kuleba said, joking that when he was a student, McDonald’s breakfast was his favorite hangover cure, and now his doctor does not recommend eating fast food.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Kuleba went to McDonald’s with Secretary Blinken during his visit to Kyiv.
Kuleba: When I was a student, my best hangover food was from McDonald’s.
Blinken: I’m sure it was very rare. pic.twitter.com/t6C6bPBi7D
– Ostap Yarysh (@OstapYarysh) September 6, 2023
Blinken replied that this did not happen to him, but he liked to run to the McDonald’s on the corner of his house for a sandwich. The Secretary of State noted that businesses such as McDonald’s have resumed operations thanks to the efforts of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.
Thanks to Foreign Minister @DmytroKuleba‘s efforts, businesses like @McDonalds restaurants re-opened their doors in Ukraine a year ago. The United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine, for as long as it takes. pic.twitter.com/x4qhw6V5FN
– Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) September 6, 2023
Kuleba: ATACMS option is still open
In addition, Blinken and Kuleba discussed further arms supplies to Ukraine, including strengthening its air defense capabilities.
“The secretary of state will come back with our needs for strengthening air defense capabilities as clear as possible. We didn’t spend much time discussing it because there is nothing to discuss. Everything is obvious. The need is very important. I just mentioned the number of systems that are needed to protect the grain corridor, our cities and our people,” Kuleba said at the briefing.
According to him, there was also a “substantive discussion” on long-range ATACMS missiles. “I am very glad that this option is still open. We rely on the US presidential administration and expect them to discuss this in more detail,” the minister said.
At the same time, Kuleba acknowledged that “it is not enough to just bring weapons from other countries, we need to increase production.” He told Blinken about plans to hold the first defense industry forum and told reporters that American companies would participate.
Blinken: Biden is waiting for a meeting with Zelensky
During his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Blinken emphasized the progress of the Ukrainian counteroffensive, which he said was “very encouraging.”
The secretary of state also noted that US President Joe Biden expects to see Zelenskyy in the near future.
