US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will arrive in Brussels on Tuesday for urgent talks with European leaders to expedite aid for Ukraine following Donald Trump’s election victory, according to a State Department statement.
On Wednesday, Blinken will meet with NATO and European Union officials to discuss support for Ukraine’s defence against Russian aggression, his spokesperson Matthew Miller said.
This visit comes as a response to concerns in Ukraine and numerous European capitals about continued support following Trump’s re-election on 5 November, the ongoing war in Gaza and Lebanon and a political crisis in Germany.
In preparation for his return to the White House on 20 January, Trump has already spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging Putin to avoid escalating the war, reports the Washington Post.
However, the Kremlin has denied any conversation between Trump and Putin, calling it a "pure invention."
According to the American press, Trump is expected to name influential Florida Senator Marco Rubio as his new Secretary of State. Rubio recently stated that the Ukraine war is in a "stalemate" and should be brought to an end.
The 78-year-old former president has repeatedly claimed that he could end the war "in one day," without ever detailing his plan.
