Blinken travels to Europe for discussions on Ukraine prior to Trump’s return

Antony Blinken, the leading diplomat of the outgoing Biden administration, is set to travel to Brussels on Tuesday for discussions with European allies who are worried that President-elect Donald Trump may forsake Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia.

Following Trump’s election victory on Nov. 5, Secretary of State Blinken is set to embark on his first overseas trip, with a stop in Brussels before continuing on to Peru and Brazil later this week, as announced.

During meetings with NATO and European Union officials, Blinken is set to “discuss support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s aggression,” according to the State Department announcement, which did not provide further details on the message he will convey.

In addition to delivering billions of dollars in military assistance to Ukraine, President Joe Biden focused on expanding NATO and mobilizing nations globally to isolate Russia following Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Trump has expressed criticism of Biden’s support for Ukraine, raising worries about the potential future backing for President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s administration if Republicans take control of the White House, Senate, and possibly the House of Representatives.

Ukraine’s military faces mounting pressure from Russia along a front line exceeding 1,000 kilometers, further straining its already outnumbered forces.

Biden officials have indicated their intention to expedite the deployment of aid already allocated for Ukraine before Trump assumes office on Jan. 20, aiming to assist Kyiv’s forces in repelling Russian troops, who have been advancing in territory.

“We are diligently striving to ensure Ukraine is in the strongest possible position, by ramping up assistance until the end of the administration and collaborating with global partners to guarantee they are prepared to fill any gaps,” stated a U.S. official, who requested to remain unnamed.

The European allies that Blinken will meet in Brussels are included, along with others such as South Korea, which may play a crucial role due to its concerns regarding the strengthening alliance between Russia and North Korea, according to the official.

Last week, Ukraine reported that it had engaged in clashes with a portion of the estimated 11,000 North Korean troops stationed in Russia’s Kursk region.

“The most crucial task they can undertake … is to effectively delegate as much of this responsibility to the Europeans as possible,” stated Anne-Marie Slaughter, CEO of the New America think tank and a former State Department official.

European nations have been gearing up for the potential of a second Trump presidency, yet they are eager to convey publicly their willingness to collaborate with Trump, she stated.

“Slaughter mentioned that Blinken might engage in some discreet, low-key activities, while also reminding Europeans that they continue to have many allies in the United States, despite the government adopting a markedly different perspective.”

PROSPECTIVE PEACE DISCUSSIONS

Trump’s return is expected to shift attention back to defense spending among NATO members. Many allies currently allocate more than the mandated 2% of their GDP towards defense; however, Trump has expressed that he would demand a commitment of 3% from these allies.

Trump has criticized NATO member countries for years for not meeting their agreed military spending targets. During the campaign, he warned that he would not only refuse to defend nations that were “delinquent” on funding but would also encourage Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to those nations.

Although he has not provided a detailed strategy for the conflict, Trump has expressed his intention to swiftly bring the war to a close.

Ukraine is striving to establish a robust stance for possible peace negotiations.

According to a source familiar with the conversation, Trump has communicated with Zelenskiy and had a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the president-elect allegedly urged Putin to refrain from escalating the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin has refuted the occurrence of the call.

Following Trump’s election victory, European leaders have aimed to sway him to continue backing Ukraine by openly emphasizing Russia’s connections to North Korea, Iran, and China.

According to Daniel Fried, a retired U.S. diplomat currently with the Atlantic Council think tank, the outgoing Biden administration has limited choices and must focus on positioning Ukraine favorably for possible peace negotiations.

Fried mentioned that this could entail working with allies to implement new sanctions on Russia or to enhance the enforcement of current ones, though any measures taken at this time could be readily reversed by Trump officials.

“If the Biden team attempts to corner them or gain an advantage, the Trump team might simply dismiss it entirely,” he stated.