Blinken took part in a meeting of the North Atlantic Council, NATO’s decision-making body, before talks with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga, with the European Union’s top diplomat Josep Borrell and his successor Kaja Kallas.
His emergency trip comes as Trump’s election victory, coupled with a political crisis in Germany, heightens fears about the future of assistance for Ukraine at a key point in the fight against Russia’s invasion.
Blinken told reporters President Joe Biden was “committed to making sure that every dollar we have at our disposal will be pushed out the door between now and Jan 20”, when Trump takes office.
But he also reiterated the call for Washington’s allies to step up.
“We’re counting on European partners and others to strongly support Ukraine’s mobilisation,” Blinken said – calling for more artillery, more air defences, more munitions as well as training for Kyiv’s forces.
“MORE OF THE SAME”
Trump has in the past voiced admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin and scoffed at the US$175 billion the United States has committed for Ukraine since the start of the war in 2022.
The 78-year-old tycoon has boasted he can end the war in a day, likely by forcing concessions from Ukraine, although his newly named national security advisor, Mike Waltz, said Trump may also pressure Putin.
US media have reported Trump might pick Senator Marco Rubio as his secretary of state – a prominent Republican who has said Washington should show “pragmatism” rather than sending billions of dollars in weapons as the war hit a “stalemate”.
Source: CNA
