U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrived in Kiev on Wednesday, January 19, for an official visit.
The U.S. Embassy said the visit comes in support of broad diplomatic engagement with European allies and partners regarding a unified approach in addressing the threat Russia poses to Ukraine and a common effort to encourage Russia to choose the path of diplomacy and de-escalation for security and stability.
Anthony Blinken said during a speech in front of the U.S. Embassy in Kiev that the U.S. would prefer to resolve the situation with Russia over Ukraine peacefully.
"I really, really hope that we continue on the diplomatic and peaceful path, but ultimately it depends on President Putin," US Secretary of State Blinken was quoted as saying by the US Embassy in Ukraine on its Twitter page
«"I strongly, strongly hope we can keep this on a diplomatic and peaceful path, but ultimately this is President Putin's decision." - U.S. Secretary of State Blinken pic.twitter.com/yK4dYPb9wQ
— U.S. Embassy Kyiv (@USEmbassyKyiv) January 19, 2022
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken believes that leaving Russia's actions against Ukraine unresponsive will unleash other autocracies and undermine democracy around the world.
"A lot of Americans are asking why we're so focused on Ukraine, why it's important. Of course, Ukraine is important in and of itself. We have supported its sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence for many years. You've heard this formula many times. But it is also more than Ukraine. For here's what's happening: one country, Russia, is saying through its actions that it can just change its neighbors' borders by force, can decide for its neighbors what their decisions should be, who they can ally with, not the people of this country through their elected government," Blinken said in a video commentary for Pod Save America, UP reports.
As noted in Blinken's public schedule for Jan. 19, at 10:45 a.m. the secretary of state held a meeting with U.S. embassy officials in Kiev. At 12:30, a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. At 14:00 Blinken will meet with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, and at 15:30 a joint press conference with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister is scheduled.
On January 20, Secretary Blinken will travel to Berlin to discuss recent diplomatic engagement with Russia and joint efforts to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine. The Secretary of State will meet with Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock, followed by a meeting with the top four U.S. transatlantic partners. On January 21, Blinken will also meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Geneva.
