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How to Travel Through Europe by Train Like a Pro

Last Updated on June 8, 2023

Traveling through Europe by train is a wonderful experience that offers a unique and authentic way to explore the continent. It is a cost-effective and sustainable way to travel that gives you a chance to see the breathtaking scenery of Europe. 

However, train travel can also be overwhelming for first-timers. That’s why we’ve put together this guide on traveling through Europe by train like a pro.

Make an Itinerary

The first step to traveling through Europe by train like a pro is to plan ahead. Research your destinations and create a rough itinerary of the places you want to visit, as well as the duration of your stay. You can use websites such as Rail Europe or Eurail to plan your train journeys and book tickets in advance. This can save you money, time, and heartache on your adventure!

Buy a Rail Pass

If you plan to take multiple train journeys during your trip, buying a rail pass is worth considering. A rail pass allows you to travel on most trains in Europe without purchasing individual tickets for each journey. Different types of rail passes are available, depending on the length of your trip and the countries you want to visit.

Utilize Nearby Luggage Storage

When traveling through Europe by train, you may find yourself in a situation where you need to store your luggage temporarily. This can happen if you arrive at your destination before your hotel check-in time or want to explore a city without carrying heavy bags.

Fortunately, many train stations in Europe offer luggage storage facilities. For example, if you’re spending the day in St. Pancras, simply look for luggage storage in St. Pancras . Now, you can explore the city with peace of mind — and no heavy bags weighing you down.

Choose Your Train

When traveling through Europe by train , you can take high-speed trains, regional trains, or overnight trains. High-speed trains, such as the Eurostar or TGV, are faster and more expensive than regional trains. However, they are a smart option for longer journeys or days you want to travel between two distant cities in a short amount of time.

Regional trains, on the other hand, are slower but cheaper. They are an option if you want to explore smaller towns and villages along your route. Overnight trains, such as the Nightjet, allow you to save time and money by combining transportation and accommodation.

One of the advantages of traveling through Europe by train is the ability to easily move from one place to another. However, this can be difficult if you are carrying a heavy suitcase. Therefore, it is important to pack light and only bring the essentials. A backpack or a small suitcase is ideal for train travel.

Arrive Early

You should arrive at the train station at least 30 minutes before your train departure time. This allows you to find your platform, check the train timetable, and board the train stress-free. After all, when a train says it leaves at 10:00, you best believe it’ll be on the move promptly at 10:00.

Additionally, arriving early can give you time to grab a coffee or a snack from one of the many cafes at the train station.

Validate Your Ticket

If you have purchased individual train tickets, don’t forget to validate them before boarding the train. You can do this at the yellow validation machines located at the train station. Failure to validate your ticket can result in a fine if you are caught by a ticket inspector on the train.

Keep Your Ticket Handy

Once you have boarded the train, it is important to keep your ticket handy. Ticket inspectors may ask to see your ticket any time during the journey, so it is best to have it easily accessible. Additionally, some trains have a designated area for luggage storage, so be sure to keep your bags in the appropriate area.

Bring Your Own Food

While some trains have dining cars or food carts, it is always a good idea to bring your own food and snacks for the journey. This can save you money and ensure that you have something to eat if the train has no food options or limited options.

Enjoy the Scenery

Last but not least, one of the most important things to remember when traveling through Europe by train is to take the time to enjoy the scenery. Europe is home to some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes and architecture, and traveling by train allows you to see it all from a unique perspective.

Happy Travels!

Traveling through Europe by train is a fantastic experience that offers a unique and authentic way to explore the continent. With these tips, you can travel like a pro and make the most of your journey. Remember to plan ahead, pack light, and most importantly, enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way.

Related posts:

• Why you should travel by train in Europe (and how to book tickets)
• Exploring France by train: Our top five train rides in France
• How to Travel around Europe on the Cheap
• Things to Know Before You Board a Train from Vienna to Prague

My 18-Hour Train Ride From Warsaw To Kyiv

My train ride from Warsaw to Kyiv was l-o-n-g and stifling hot, but all things considered a very comfortable journey between the Polish and Ukrainian capital cities onboard D 68, The Kyiv Express.

Train Review: D 68 – The Kyiv Express (Warsaw – Kyiv) – Three-Bed Sleeper Compartment

I arrived at Warszawa   Wschodnia   (Warsaw East station) at 5:00 pm, 45 minutes ahead of my departure to Kyiv. My train did not display on the departure board, so I briefly panicked, thinking I was at the wrong station. But a station attendant who spoke English directed me toward track three.

With no idea what to expect onboard the train, I spent the next 30 minutes in the departure hall charging my phone and laptop. I came prepared with a portable charger, but with an 18-hour journey ahead of me, I wanted to be as close to fully charged as possible before even leaving the station.

At 5:25 pm I proceeded to track three, where the train still had not arrived. At 5:33 pm, the train pulled up into the station, with blue and yellow passenger carriages that did not look all that different on the outside than the Metro cars in Kyiv.

Train attendants stepped off of each car and queues formed to board the train. Passports were checked and train tickets compared to a printed manifest. My train attendant in car three did not speak a word of English, but after looking at my US passport and ticket, waved me onboard.

Onboard, I found a narrow hallway with compartments on the left side. Each compartment in this carriage offered triple accommodations, with three seats as well as tri-level beds that folded down.

My roommates arrived: a mother and daughter returning to Ukraine. The daughter spoke English and asked if I would mind taking the top bunk. No problem.

I was elated to see that my room had a pair of 220-volt power outlets, which kept my devices charged during the journey.

We pulled out of Warsaw West roughly on schedule and began our journey east. The window in our compartment was damaged (it had tape over it) and dirty, so I do not have a lot of pictures from the journey itself. In fact, I was not sure how photography would be received at all, so I held off.

For the first four hours of the journey, all three of us sat up. I got a lot of work done (no wi-fi, but I was able to tether off my phone, which had a strong mobile signal) while they watched movies or played games on their tablets.

People smoked in the hallway and that cigarette smoke wafted into our room.

Around 9:30 pm, the train attendant showed up to make our beds for the evening. The top bunk (my bed) was already down, but she pulled the other two beds down from the wall.

We were provided a sealed bag with sheets and a towel, while a pillow and comforter was sitting in the storage area of the compartment (and my guess, not washed between journeys).

I used this time to change into more comfortable clothing (athletic attire). Our carriage had two bathrooms, including one with a shower. The shower was absolutely filthy and the toilet could barely flush (it just gurgled).

In case you were wondering, there was no service onboard. I thought each carriage would have a large hot water tank that you could use to make coffee or tea, but I did not even see that. There certainly was no dining car or anything like that.

I came well-prepared with nuts, beef jerky, fruit, and water…but I ended up fasting. After all that food in the Swiss Alpine Lounge , I was not hungry at all.

Minutes later, we reached Dorohusk-Osada near the Polish-Ukranian border. While I expected to have to step off the train at the Polish border, uniformed Polish officials boarded the train, stopping at each compartment to stamp us out of Poland.

We continued our journey just over the border and pulled into a garage in Rymachi (Volyn Oblast), where a change of gauge would take place (tracks in Ukraine are wider, requiring the wheels to be moved further apart). For the next four hours , we did not move. I am not sure why this took so long, but during this time the train attendant collected our passports.

I was expecting some sort of interrogation, but around 2:00 am, Ukrainian border officials in camouflage fatigue knocked on our door and without a word, handed us back our passports.

Finally, around 3:00 am local time we took off again for Kyiv (we also lost an hour crossing the border due to the time zone change), I had already been asleep for a few hours while waiting and quickly fell asleep again.

The cabin was stifling hot (nearly 30ºC according to the thermometer in the hall) and the windows did not crack open, but thankfully I was able to not just sleep, but sleep for the next seven hours without interruption.

When I awoke, we were just outside Kyiv. Finally, at 12:07 pm we pulled into Kyiv-Pasazhyrsky. I bid farewell to my roommates and we lined up to step off the train.

It was a nippy afternoon, but the sky was clear and blue.

My first stop was for a flat white in the station.

All things considered, the train ride was remarkably smooth and a superb way to travel between capitals. I was fortunate to score a last-minute ticket and thankful to arrive in Kyiv very well-rested.

There is nothing luxurious about this train. No service. Filthy restrooms. Smoking onboard. But it was a special journey and one that I hope to take back to Warsaw.

Next: stepping into the city

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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38 comments.

I’m glad you made it to the (East!) train station and your journey went smoothly! I should have warned you to try to get a cabin in the middle of the wagon to avoid the smokers because they usually smoke in the space between the cars so the middle cabins go first. I’d have asked the conductor to tell the smokers to go there. This train looks pretty new compared to the one I usually take from Przemysl-Odessa including a flush toilet and shower. The old fashioned train we take has the toilet flush out onto the tracks. It’s a pity they don’t have a diner wagon anymore. They cancelled that about a decade ago for budget reasons but I have fond memories of enjoying some delicious, affordable food in it. When I first went to Odessa 25 years ago, the train had a (get this) COAL fired heater and stove!!! I’m shocked that you didn’t get tea service which, to Poles and Ukrainians, is a blasphemy to have to live without.

It helps (mostly) to travel with my wife in Ukraine because she will bark in such a scary manner that most move out of her way so if there are smokers, I ask her to yell at them and they shoo.

I’ll show her the pictures.

That filthy bathroom, the 30C cabin and the cigarette smoke were the 3 strikes for me. I guess you cannot wait to check in at your hotel.

It’s hard to believe that cigarette smoke was the norm during the 1980’s and I couldn’t stand it. We miss those days when people wore suits and you got a full meal in economy class but they came at a cost. If you were lucky, you got an “inflight movie” and some old magazines such as “Boy’s life”, “Highlights”, and “Time.”

Have fun explaining the Ukraine visa stamp to US immigration when you return.

Have you heard of Global Entry? You don’t interact with any immigration officer anymore. Also, when the president of the US goes there, I don’t see any reason why Matthew would have any problems explaining his trip.

You reckon they will even notice??

How to say you’ve never been to Ukraine without saying you’ve never been to Ukraine. As a candidate for EU and NATO membership, Ukraine is a country of surprises. The first one is how modern much of it is, and how large its major cities are. I was in Ukraine three months before the invasion and traveled from there to a couple of EU countries before returning home in the U.S. No one blinked an eye about the Ukrainian passport stamps. I am returning next month. No visa is required for US citizens.

Ukraine is a democracy that has worried hard and is fighting to retain its hard won civil rights and freedoms. They don’t need ill-informed people making ignorant comments like yours.

Giving your train a solid B+, considering the circumstances of the last year. I’ve done a few Amtrak cross country rides and as much as I enjoy and support Amtrak, the train cars look so much worse! ( no war excuse ) I might find the stranger sleeper arrangement odd, but no more awkward than a long haul economy plane ride. You’re doing great!

What was the one way last minute train fare (USD)?

Hi Mathew, where did you purchase this train ticket? I can’t find it anywhere

I bought it at the ticket counter in Warsaw. Showed sold out online every day.

This is journey is utterly fascinating! I get oddly excited about each new post. Such an adventure in a part of the world that I know little about except for the war coverage. What fantastic posts!

You got it wrong. You did not arrived or leaved from Warszawa Zachodnia(West) but from Warsaw Wschodnia(East) as written in your ticket and in your photo.

But look at the station name – second picture of this story. I took a picture of it. It must stop at both places.

My dear I don’t know what got you so confused. It looks like you’re trolling everyone who speaks Polish/Ukrainian and got a google maps access.

Your train departed from Warszawa Wschodnia / Warsaw Eastern Station. Your ticket’s got Warszawa Wschodnia on it. You picture of a station building clearly shows Warszawa Wschodnia. It makes perfect sense the train heading East leaves from Eastern train station.

Wschodnia – means Eastern (wschodnia literally means where the sun rises – the same in Polish and Ukrainian).

At no point you in your journey (so far) you had anything to do with Warszawa Zachodnia, which means Western (zachodnia literally means where the sun sets).

You’re right — I am the confused one, though it was not deliberate. I was reading Wschodnia as Zachodnia when clearly (and literally) it means the opposite.

I’ve edited the post in an attempt to remove the confusion.

Obviously I’m nitpicking here, but just want to clarify: the gauge change takes so long because entire bogies get swapped out at the border facility. The train cars are designed for this – they are rolled onto a gauntlet track that features both standard (1435) and the wider, ex-Soviet gauge (1520 mm). Bogies are disconnected from the car chassis, rolled away and a new set is rolled in and fitted to the car.

Variable gauge technologies do exist (Spain, notably), but they’re not used on these sleeper cars because of the complexity and maintenance requirements. It’s easier to just swap out entire parts of the train.

I was a little concerned yesterday when your ticket clearly showed Warsaw East, but luckily you ended up at the right station after all. Safe travels, Matthew!

Very helpful explanation! Thank you.

Oh my, was I really at the wrong station? Wish I could speak Polish…

Yes, you were. In the first photo from the taxi you can clearly see in the screen that you’re heading towards Warszawa Wschodnia (Eastern Station)

Ah, I thought Wschodnia was west. So Wschodnia is east. Got it.

What holds the car up while the wheels are missing?

So interesting to read, and helpful in understanding what life is like over there. Thank you so much for these posts!

Tracks are narrower in Poland and whole Europe, not in Ukraine as you wrote.

Without a doubt, one of the most fascinating trip reports that a points blogger has ever contributed. Way to step it up, Matthew. As well reporting in such a way that is balanced and not full of hyperbole. You set a new bar as to blogging.

Why do the cars have German words on them “Schlafwagen”, are they old cars that have been put out of service by DB or DR?

It‘s also written in French and Italian. („wagon lits“ and „vagone letto“) But I am wondering why the reservation only shows the German word „ Reservierung“.

Don’t you need a visa to visit Ukraine, especially during wartime?

You have the track sizes backwards. The gauge change entering Ukraine is to switch from standard gauge (1,435 mm) Polish tracks to broad gauge (1,520 mm) Ukrainian tracks. Tracks throughout the former Soviet Union are typically wider than much of Western Europe, including Poland. (Spain and Portugal are an exception, with the primary conventional rail network having 1,668 mm Iberian gauge tracks.)

Can you share your train journey back from Kyiv? We are having trouble finding direct trains from Kyiv to Warsaw! Any help will be appreciated.

My dilemma here–

https://liveandletsfly.com/bus-or-train-kyiv-warsaw/

I ended up taking the bus. Big mistake. Go to Moldova.

Just to let you know, the windows well might be damaged as well, but they’re shutting them close without an opportunity to open on purpose and put the tape over them in case the train is hit by the artillery etc so the glass doesn’t shatter everywhere and there’s less damage ( Don’t know the efficacy of such actions but that’s the reasoning behind it and you see plenty of taped over windows in Ukraine since Feb24 2022)

Oh, I am so glad I found this rewiev! I will take the same train Warszawa-Kyiv in August. I have only travelled with the train Chelm-Kyiv before. As I am travelling with my daugther I am intresserad in the breths – is there any gunwales on the breths? Or maybe I only have to hope we will have the two lower breths.

There was a rail on the top berth. Safe travels!

Really really helpful post. Thx.

super helpful, many thanks for sharing.

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Blinken, in Kyiv, vows unwavering US support as Russian attacks intensify

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Uk's infected blood scandal could and should have been avoided, inquiry finds.

Britain's infected blood scandal that has killed 3,000 people and left thousands more suffering with hepatitis or HIV was no accident, a public inquiry found on Monday, blaming a catalogue of failures by government and doctors.

The office of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on Monday said it was seeking arrest warrants against three leading Hamas militants for their alleged roles in the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Plan to restore passenger rail service across Montana is chugging along

More passenger rail through Montana isn’t just a hope and a dream, it’s a plan that’s chugging its way to reality, according to a report this week from the Big Sky Rail Authority.

And Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg is on board.

Representatives from the  Big Sky Rail Authority  updated the Transportation Interim Committee of the Montana Legislature this week shortly after Secretary Buttigieg visited the Treasure State and touted federal investments in infrastructure.

Big Sky Rail Authority Chairperson Dave Strohmaier said a federal rail study identifies two long-distance routes through Montana as preferred, an east-west line connecting Seattle to Chicago and a north-south line to Billings.

“Montana is really the epicenter and the beneficiary of two preferred long-distance routes in this study,” Strohmaier said.

He said getting Montana’s routes selected as preferred ones in the Federal Railroad Administration study was one of two key goals the Big Sky Rail Authority accomplished since it came into existence some three years ago. He said the routes would connect urban and rural communities in the American West.

At a separate event this week at the Missoula Montana Airport,  Buttigieg talked  about the ripple effects federal dollars for infrastructure have for customers, workers and economic development.

He said the West famously had some of America’s great railroads, but trains have experienced a loss of service, and it’s one reason the federal transportation department has put planning dollars into rail.

In December 2023, the Biden administration announced $8.2 billion in new grants for rail for projects ready to be built and ones in the works, including planning dollars for improved service  in Montana .

A couple of weeks ago, Buttigieg said he attended a ground-breaking on a high-speed rail line that will run between Nevada and  southern California . He said rail is part of the transit system, and a Corridor Identification Program will lead to a plan for implementing more rail.

“The bottom line is, passenger rail is something we believe in … we’ve done it before in this country, and we’ve done it well, and there’s no reason we can’t do it again,” Buttigieg said.

Strohmaier said a couple of major federal initiatives are underway related to rail, and Montana is in the mix in both. He answered questions by phone and also gave a report to the legislature Wednesday where he shared a map that showed the dearth of service in Montana.

“If folks are wondering about feasibility or not, that train has left the station,” Strohmaier said. “We are no longer debating feasibility. We are in the planning stage as we speak to make this happen.”

The planning is underway with a $500,000 grant from a federal Department of Transportation, he said. However, Rob Stapley, with the Montana Department of Transportation, said federal funds are not currently available for operating restored or new long-distance passenger routes.

Restoration of the North Coast Hiawatha is estimated to generate $271 million in economic benefits to seven states and cost Amtrak $68 million to operate, according to a 2021 report from the Rail Passengers Association. The report said the cost is offset by the collection of $41 million in fares and other customer revenue.

Samantha Beyl, of Rosebud County, told the committee that southeast Montana represents 20% of the state’s population and 26% of its landmass, and it is a place rich in cultural and recreational significance.

However, Beyl said many communities face challenges in accessing services such as health care, and passenger rail could help take people to cities where medical care is available, such as Billings.

In 2023, tourists spent $5.45 billion in Montana, including $1.6 billion on transit, she said, citing the Institute for Tourism and  Recreation Research  at the University of Montana. In southeast Montana alone, she said, non-residents spent $868 million in 2022.

“This underscores the importance of enhancing transportation infrastructure, such as the passenger rail system, to accommodate the growing demand for tourists,” said Beyl, a Forsyth City Councilor and member of the Big Sky Rail Authority.

The Big Sky Rail Authority is the largest transit district in the state of Montana and a subdivision of state government, Strohmaier said. Leaders include representatives from 20 member counties; three tribal nations, the Crow, Northern Cheyenne, and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes; and Amtrak, the Montana Department of Transportation and BNSF.

First, Strohmaier said, the Federal Railroad Administration’s long-distance study examines the potential to reopen discontinued routes or new ones of 750 miles or more. That study will wrap up soon, and it identifies both the North Coast Hiawatha, connecting Chicago to Seattle through southern Montana, and a north-south line to Billings, from El Paso or Denver, as preferred, he said.

“This is a big deal for the state of Montana and something that has been over four decades in the making,” Strohmaier said.

Additionally, Strohmaier said the North Coast Hiawatha is the only new long-distance route that will be recommended to Congress through another Federal Railroad Administration program, the Corridor Identification Program setting rail priorities.

“This too is a huge win for Montana,” he said.

He said a request for proposals to hire a firm to help get the project into the development pipeline will go out within days. The federal rail programs are part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

According to the Big Sky Rail Authority, the North Coast Hiawatha was discontinued in 1979, leaving “a vast expanse of the Greater Northwest Region” and some of Montana’s largest cities without passenger rail service.

Next steps for the plan include answering the “burning questions people have asked for so long,” said Strohmaier. Where will the stations be located? What will the schedules look like? What are the necessary infrastructure investments?

“What will the trains themselves be like?” said Strohmaier, also chairperson of the Board of Missoula County Commissioners.

He said a $500,000 federal grant supports the planning process, and a “shovel-ready project” should be ready for implementation in 2.5 to three years.

The collaboration includes the Federal Railroad Administration and eight states including Montana. Strohmaier said he met briefly with Buttigieg this week, and the secretary was aware of efforts in Montana and enthusiastic about them.

One question people have asked is whether a train could run through Butte in the future, but it’s a heavier lift than Helena because of the lack of an active rail line east of Butte, Strohmaier said. However, he said Butte remains in the mix for the long game.

“Short term, let’s just get the doggone train running through southern Montana (and) figure out transit connections through communities that might not initially see a rail stop,” Strohmaier said. “But absolutely, Butte is still in the mix as far as rail connectivity at some point in time.”

He also said infrastructure work near Malta is underway with a $15 million federal DOT grant. He said upgrades near Malta are important because it’s a chokepoint for passengers and freight.

This week, Strohmaier and an Amtrak official were headed to Havre for a meeting focused on the Empire Builder. He said a concern along the Hi-Line is if Montana adds passenger rail elsewhere, it will mean a loss of rail along the Hi-Line.

“Only with a strong Empire Builder can we have a strong and vital and sustainable North Coast Hiawatha,” Strohmaier said.

This story was initially published by The Daily Montanan, a nonprofit news organization and part of the States News network, covering state issues. Read more at www.dailymontanan.com.

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Blinken, in Kyiv, Vows Unwavering US Support as Russian Attacks Intensify

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky greets US Secretary of State Antony Blinken prior to their meeting in Kyiv on May 14, 2024. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/Pool via REUTERS

By Simon Lewis

KYIV (Reuters) - The U.S. will stand by Ukraine until its security sovereignty is guaranteed, Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged on Tuesday in a visit to Kyiv, at a time when Russia is mounting fresh attacks in the country's east.

The top U.S. diplomat is the first senior U.S. official to travel to Ukraine after U.S. Congress passed last month a $61 billion military aid package following a delay of several months during which Russia gained advantage on the battlefield.

In a policy speech at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, Blinken acknowledged the delay of U.S. weapons made Ukraine more vulnerable to Russia's attacks but said Kyiv can count on Washington's unwavering support because the American people understood that Russia will not stop in Ukraine.

"Putin is ramping up yet another offensive against Ukraine in Kharkiv and across the east, sending wave after wave of Russian soldiers, Iranian drones, North Korean artillery, and tanks, missiles and fighter jets built with machines and parts supplied by China," Blinken said.

"We are with you today. And we will stay by your side until Ukraine's security, sovereignty, its ability to choose its own path is guaranteed," he said.

Blinken arrived in Kyiv by train early on Tuesday morning on the previously undisclosed visit, which comes days after Russia launched a ground incursion into the north of the region of Kharkiv, opening a new front and stretching Ukraine's soldiers.

Kyiv has been on the back foot on the battlefield for months as Russian troops have slowly advanced, taking advantage of Ukraine's shortages of troop manpower and artillery shells.

The Latest Photos From Ukraine

Military aid from Washington, Kyiv's main backer, was held up for months, blocked by Republicans in the U.S. Congress until they finally allowed a vote last month, when it passed with support from both parties.

The hold up by the Republicans was largely driven by Donald Trump, former president and the party's presumptive nominee in November elections to rival President Joe Biden. His non-committal stance on Ukraine has spooked European countries.

In his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Blinken tried to reassure him that following the delays, U.S. aid would now be flowing in a steady way.

"We know this is a challenging time. But we also know that in the near term the assistance is now on the way, some of it has already arrived and more of it will be arriving," he said in remarks with Zelenskiy.

"And that's going to make a real difference against the ongoing Russian aggression on the battlefield."

Russia now controls about 18% of Ukraine and has been gaining ground since the failure of Kyiv's 2023 counter-offensive to make serious inroads against Russian troops dug in behind deep minefields.

Zelenskiy, addressing Blinken in English, said air defence supplies were "the biggest deficit for us" with Russia conducting long-range aerial attacks since March that have pounded electricity facilities and caused blackouts.

"Really we need today two Patriots for Kharkiv, for Kharkiv region because there the people are under attack. Civilians, warriors, everybody they are under Russian missiles."

On Monday, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Washington was trying to accelerate "the tempo of the deliveries" of weapons to Ukraine to help it reverse its disadvantage.

"The delay put Ukraine in a hole and we're trying to help them dig out of that hole as rapidly as possible," Sullivan said, adding that a fresh package of weapons was going to be announced this week.

Zelenskiy also said he wanted to discuss security guarantees and an upcoming peace summit, asking Blinken to help ensure participation from more countries. Moscow is not invited to the summit in Switzerland next month.

PATH TO NATO

The U.S. was working with European allies to lay the foundation for Ukraine to build its long-term force, efforts that would be bringing Kyiv "closer to and then into" NATO, Blinken said.

While the U.S.-led defence alliance is not likely to admit Ukraine any time soon, individual members are reaching bilateral security agreements with Kyiv. Talks on a U.S.-Ukraine agreement are "in the final stages" and will conclude ahead of a July NATO summit in Washington, a senior U.S. official told reporters.

These bilateral security agreements, Blinken said would be elements that bolster Ukraine's "bridge" to NATO.

"When we hold the Washington Summit in July, we'll take tangible steps to increase NATO's role in building a resilient, capable Ukrainian force, supporting its ongoing reforms, and better integrating Ukraine into the alliance," Blinken said.

"All of these will ensure that the moment the conditions are met, and allies agree, Ukraine's invitation and accession to the alliance will be swift and smooth."

The Group of Seven wealthy nations signed a joint declaration at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July last year committing to establish "long-term security commitments and arrangements" with Ukraine that would be negotiated bilaterally.

Kyiv says the arrangements should contain important and concrete security commitments, but that the agreements would in no way replace its strategic goal of joining NATO.

(Reporting by Simon Lewis; Writing by Humeyra Pamuk and Tom Balmforth; Editing by Don Durfee, Rosalba O'Brien, Nick Zieminski and Marguerita Choy)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

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Armed with a guitar, Blinken sings in Kyiv bar: 'Keep on rockin' in the free world'

Watch: us secretary of state wanted to convey to the ukrainians a message that the us and the free world are with them as the war against them continues - and chose to do so through neil young's song.