**CHISINAU (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Wednesday that the delivery of U.S. weapons to Ukraine is helping to stabilize the battlefield's frontlines. He emphasized that Washington is committed to providing more air defense systems to Ukraine.**
Speaking at a press conference in Chisinau, Moldova, Blinken stated that supporting Ukraine sends a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he cannot outlast Ukraine.
Blinken arrived in Chisinau earlier on Wednesday, marking the first stop on a brief European tour aimed at bolstering Western support for Ukraine among NATO allies and neighboring countries. Ukraine is currently defending against intensified Russian attacks in the east, while President Putin has warned that allowing Kyiv to use Western weapons for strikes inside Russia could escalate into a global conflict.
Blinken acknowledged that Russia had taken advantage of the delay in the approval of a $61 billion U.S. weapons package for Ukraine. However, he noted that the arms are now reaching the battlefield and making a significant impact.
"We're seeing these weapons have real effects, including stabilizing the front," Blinken said.
During the press conference with Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Blinken commended Moldova's remarkable resilience in the face of Russian "bullying," disinformation campaigns, and corruption.
"What's so powerful here is the deep, deep-rooted commitment to democracy ... And this in the face of bullying from Russia, interference, efforts to spread misinformation, disinformation, weaponizing corruption, manufacturing anti-government protests," he remarked.
"Despite that, we've seen extraordinary resilience from Moldova's leadership, and especially from its people."
Blinken also mentioned that President Joe Biden's administration is working with the U.S. Congress to provide an additional $50 million to Moldova. This funding aims to help the country resist Russian interference, including through reforms in the energy and agricultural sectors and combating disinformation.
(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk in Chisinau; Writing by Daphne Psaledakis and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
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