"Ukraine Market Attack and Russian Airstrikes Overshadow Blinken's Visit"

A reported Russian attack on the city of Kostiantynivka in eastern Ukraine, which killed at least 16 people, overshadowed U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Kyiv. Blinken is expected to announce a new package of U.S. assistance worth over $1 billion to support Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russia's invasion forces. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned the attack and called for defeating "this Russian evil." The Ukrainian counteroffensive has faced criticism for being slow and hindered by poor tactics, but U.S. officials have not publicly criticized Ukraine's military. Blinken's visit coincided with parliament approving the appointment of Rustem Umerov as defense minister, and he also thanked Denmark for its donation of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.