Ukraine is on its way to “getting back on its feet” militarily, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said today, pointing out that more than 20 countries around the world have pledged to continue their military and financial aid to Kiev even if the US withdraws its support under a new team in the White House, the Associated Press reported.
Blinken for the first time directly touched on the possibility of former President Donald Trump winning the November election and abandoning the country's commitments to Ukraine. Under current President Joe Biden, the United States has become Ukraine's most significant supporter in its more than two-year fight against the Russian invasion.
Trump's public comments have ranged from criticism of U.S. aid to Ukraine to support it, while his vice presidential nominee, J.D. Vance, has led Republican efforts to block billions of dollars in U.S. military and financial aid to Kiev in Congress.
Concerns among Ukraine and its supporters that the country could lose vital U.S. support have grown as Trump's campaign has gained momentum and Biden's failures have been met.
Blinken said today that any new U.S. administration would have to take into account the strong bipartisan support in Congress for Ukraine in the interest of countering President Vladimir Putin's attempts to expand Russia's territory and influence.
„Each administration has the right, of course, to "It sets its policy. And we can't take that away from it," Blinken said, speaking to an audience of U.S. and foreign policymakers at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado.
He also pointed to security agreements that the United States and more than 20 other allies - including some NATO partners, Japan and the European Union - signed at the alliance's summit in Washington this month.
"I suppose we could back down on that, but fortunately we have more than 20 other countries doing the same thing," Blinken said.
Ukraine itself, he said, is already "on its own feet militarily, economically and democratically."