Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to travel to France and Belgium next week to boost unity among US allies in support of Ukraine in its fight against Russia. He is expected to discuss with the allies also about Israel and its fight against Hamas militants. As VOA correspondent Cindy Saine reports, analysts say Mr. Blinken faces a difficult task.
Russia carried out airstrikes on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Wednesday for the first time since 2022, killing at least one civilian and wounding 16 others and causing extensive damage.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Europe next week to bolster support for Ukraine, the State Department announced.
“Secretary Blinken will travel to Paris, Brussels and Leuven, Belgium, from April 1 to 5 to emphasize our commitment to the NATO alliance, strengthening transatlantic partnerships and addressing global challenges. In Paris, Secretary Blinken will meet with French President (Emmanuel) Macron to discuss support for Ukraine, efforts to prevent the escalation of the conflict in Gaza and a number of other important issues,” State Department spokesman Mathew Miller said. .
The French president sparked controversy last month when he said Russia should not be allowed to win and that the possibility of the West sending ground troops to Ukraine should not be ruled out. The United States and Germany quickly rejected the suggestion of ground troops.
One expert told VOA that he believes President Macron was saying what the United States often says, that all options are possible, but without hinting that there are plans to send troops to Ukraine.
“We are in a difficult moment, as far as the war in Ukraine is concerned. This is creating new challenges and risks of escalation. The United States and France are more inclined to support Ukraine. I think that the meeting with President Macron will certainly be very important for this support”, says Ian Lesser, vice president of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, based in Brussels.
Meanwhile, Secretary Blinken will travel to Europe next week as anger also grows over casualties in Gaza as a result of Israel's war against the Hamas group, which the United States has designated as a terrorist group. Another expert told VOA that in Paris and Brussels, Mr. Blinken must ensure the commitment of allies to maintain support for Israel.
“He will have to express strong support for Israel. I think President Biden has been clear about that, but at the same time, some of the concerns that Europeans have, particularly about whether Israel is using excessive violence, or whether there is a lack of a long-term strategy, or whether Israel is committing human rights violations in Gaza,” says Michael Kimmage, professor of history at the Catholic University of America
Another topic of discussion for Mr Blinken is likely to be the terrorist threat from Islamic State, which claimed responsibility for last week's attack on a Moscow concert hall. The United States dismissed as propaganda allegations by Russian officials that Ukraine was involved in the attack.