Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, Visits Ukraine..."Will Show Firm Support"

US Supports Ukraine's NATO Membership Hope
US State Department Emphasizes "Crimea is Ukrainian Territory"

U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken arrived at Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv, Ukraine, on the 6th (local time) and is seen disembarking from his private plane.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken arrived in Ukraine immediately after the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting held in the United Kingdom, stating that he would demonstrate America's firm support, which is expected to provoke strong opposition from Russia. Ukraine is anticipated to use Blinken's visit as an opportunity to demand strong U.S. backing for its membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

According to foreign media including the Associated Press on the 5th (local time), Secretary Blinken departed for Ukraine right after the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting and arrived in Ukraine late that afternoon. Blinken visited Ukraine as a special envoy of President Joe Biden at the request of the Ukrainian government, which appealed to the U.S. for support amid escalating border disputes and military tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Blinken is scheduled to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the 6th.

President Zelensky is known to seek strong support from the Biden administration for Ukraine's NATO membership during this meeting. Ukraine hopes to receive more military aid from the U.S. as clashes intensify with separatist rebels in the eastern region backed by the Russian government. Earlier, the Ukrainian government reported that about 34 of its soldiers died in combat this year in the border areas with Russia and is demanding NATO protection against Russia's military provocations and invasion threats.

Before visiting Ukraine, Secretary Blinken emphasized at a press conference in London, UK, "I am visiting Ukraine to express firm support for Ukraine's security and territorial integrity." On the same day, the U.S. State Department issued a statement emphasizing that both the Crimean Peninsula, forcibly annexed by Russia in 2014, and the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, where fighting is intensifying, are Ukrainian territories, and that the U.S. government pledges to uphold Ukraine's territorial integrity.

However, it remains uncertain whether Ukraine's NATO membership will be realized through this visit. Strong opposition from Russia is expected, and European countries concerned about increased security instability reportedly do not actively support Ukraine's NATO membership.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.