US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reaffirmed Washington’s support for Ukraine in the wake of heightened tensions with Russia, fueled by its recent troop buildup near the borders.
Blinken met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and reiterated the US’s commitment to Ukraine’s “sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.
Addressing a press conference after his meeting with Zelensky the top American diplomat also underscored the importance of Ukraine’s efforts to tackle widespread corruption and carry out reforms.
By visiting so early in his tenure, before any trip to Russia, Blinken signaled that Ukraine is a high foreign-policy priority for President Joe Biden’s administration.
Ukraine has seen an increase in hostilities in the east in recent months. Ukraine’s military says 34 of its soldiers have been killed by rebel attacks this year.
Russia, which claims its soldiers are not on the ground in eastern Ukraine, fueled the tensions further this year by massing troops and conducting large-scale military exercises near the border with Ukraine.
Efforts have stalled to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has killed more than 14,000 people since it broke out in 2014.
Zelensky has called for the US to try to push these efforts forward by joining negotiations within the “Normandy Format” that consists of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France. Russia is almost certain to oppose any US involvement in the negotiations.
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