UK defence secretary says, alongside death toll, Russians have lost over 2,000 armoured vehicles ; US wants Russia to remain weakened by war.

Here’s more on the US’ announcement of sending diplomats to Ukraine and reopening its embassy in Kyiv.

The US will begin by only sending ambassadors to Lviv on short trips versus fully reopening its embassy in Kyiv.

US officials have also confirmed that they hope to send diplomats to Kyiv, but have said that it depends on the security situation.

While speaking to reporters today, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: “We will have American diplomats back in Ukraine starting next week....They’ll then start the process of looking at how we actually reopen the embassy itself in Kyiv.”

Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Ukraine over the weekend. They are the highest-ranking US officials to visit the country since the beginning of Russia’s invasion over two months ago, reports the Hill.

US officials have promised to reopen the embassy in Ukraine following a visit to the country over the weekend, reported Reuters.

Ukraine’s defence minister said today that Ukraine has started to receive 155mm calibre artillery from the US and other partners.

From CNN’s Bianna Golodryga citing a report from the Financial Times:

Ukraine’s Defense Minister says Ukraine is already starting to receive 155mm calibre artillery — the standard Nato size — from the US and from other partners, including France. He predicts that longer-range weaponry will ‘fundamentally’ change fight with Russia.