U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the future U.S. bilateral security agreement with Ukraine will support defense and security in a number of critical areas, in particular it will accelerate efforts to strengthen the Ukrainian defense industrial base.

"Under our own ten-year agreement, the United States will support Ukraine's defense and security across a range of essential capabilities – from its air force to its air defense, from drones to demining," Blinken said during a speech at the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute on Tuesday.

"If Russia or anyone else were to attack Ukraine, we will work with Ukraine immediately – at the highest levels – to coordinate how to help you beat back the threat," he said.

"Our bilateral security agreement will accelerate our joint efforts to build and build up Ukraine's defense industrial base – so that you can produce artillery, ammunition, air defenses, and other crucial weapons you need here in Ukraine," Blinken said.

Separately, he emphasized that Ukraine's innovation and ingenuity were the key to its success on the battlefield.

"The key now is to ramp up production without losing that spirit of experimentation and adaptation that has fostered so many amazing breakthroughs. That will also help Ukraine's businesses attract more private investments to scale up – and increase Ukraine's potential to become a defense exporter in weapons and in training," the Secretary of State said.

He noted that the United States provides concrete support in the creation of this industry. In addition, he indicated that American companies have already entered into several major agreements to produce ammunition in and for Ukraine, and even more are in the process of development.

"All of these measures – Ukraine's increased integration with, and support from, NATO; a growing network of security agreements with individual countries; a booming defense industrial base – all of these will ensure that the moment conditions are met and Allies agree, Ukraine's invitation and accession to the Alliance will be swift and smooth," Blinken said.

"These measures will also ensure that if Russia is ever serious about negotiating a truly just and lasting peace with Ukraine, your military prowess will be formidable, your hand strong, your path to Europe and NATO secure," he said.