(ANSA-AFP) - KYIV, JAN 19 - The United States confirmed Wednesday that it authorised an additional $200 million in security aid to Ukraine as it faces threats of a Russian invasion. President Joe Biden's administration "last month approved the provision of $200 million in additional defensive security assistance to our Ukrainian partners," a senior US official said as Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Kyiv.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to choose the "peaceful path" on Ukraine, as he visited Kyiv in a show of support ahead of crunch talks with Russia later this week. In Ukraine in advance of talks with European allies in Berlin and his Russian counterpart in Geneva on Friday, Blinken urged Putin to calm fears he is planning an invasion of his pro-Western neighbour. "I strongly, strongly hope that we can keep this on a diplomatic and peaceful path, but ultimately, that's going to be President Putin's decision," Blinken said at the US embassy after he landed in the Ukrainian capital. (ANSA-AFP).