U.S. Envoys Blinken, Austin to Visit Ukraine, Zelenskiy Says

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Bloomberg

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin would visit Kyiv on Sunday, in what would be a risky show of support for Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion.

“Tomorrow people from the U.S. are coming, I will meet the defense minister and the secretary of state, Mr. Blinken,” Zelenskiy told reporters on Saturday. “I think, we will be waiting when security will allow the president of the U.S. to come and support Ukraine’s people.”

It wasn’t clear if Zelenskiy’s disclosure was cleared with the Biden administration or if it would affect any travel plans. The White House and the State Department did not immediately comment.

The visits, if confirmed, would be the first by top U.S. officials to Ukraine’s capital since Russia invaded the country on Feb. 24. In March, Blinken briefly met with Ukraine’s foreign minister at the Ukraine-Polish border.

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-23/top-u-s-envoy-blinken-to-visit-ukraine-sunday-zelenskiy-says

[former9thward]

1. This trip was supposed to be kept secret for obvious security reasons.

Zelensky told the world for his own purposes. Biden should cancel their visits.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. For all we know

they may have already been in-country for an assessment, recorded something for the media, and are on their way home.

[former9thward]

5. I doubt that but we will find out very quickly.

[speak easy]

3. "Presidents of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland head to Ukraine"

The presidents of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland are heading to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“On our way to Kyiv, to a city that has suffered terribly due to Russian war since my last visit,” Estonian President Alar Karis said on Twitter.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on Wednesday he was “heading to Kyiv with a strong message of political support and military assistance”.

https://www.polity.org.za/article/presidents-of-estonia-latvia-lithuania-poland-head-to-ukraine-2022-04-13

The visit of four heads of state was pre-announced.

[former9thward]

4. You really equate the presidents of those countries

with the heads of the two most powerful cabinet positions of the most powerful country in the world? I don't.

[speak easy]

7. No. I am making a statement about safety.

[former9thward]

9. So am I

The Sec of State and Def of the U.S. are a hundred times the target than the others you mentioned.

[speak easy]

11. Just the opposite.

Assassinating the Secs of State and Defense would be a WWIII event.

[BeyondGeography]

12. +1

[former9thward]

18. There are more actors involved than just Russia.

There can be groups and individuals happy to stir the pot.

[Kaleva]

28. Zelinskiy is himself probably a more important target

[Kaleva]

29. Our allies would be happy to learn their leaders lives don't mean much

When compared to the lives of US cabinet members

[former9thward]

30. The Sec of State and Sec of Def have far, far more security than those individuals.

I suspect they know that.

[Kaleva]

31. Maybe but we can't argue our NATO allies lives are not as valuable

as the lives of f US cabinet members

[BeyondGeography]

6. Lol...call the White House!

These visits and the re-opening of embassies are a deterrent for Putin to mess with Kyiv. Russian state TV in its infinite wisdom pisses and moans that they can’t nuke Zelensky without impunity now.

They should be as high-profile as is reasonably possible.

[former9thward]

10. Then why didn't the White House and Pentagon announce the visits?

They are both giving "no comment" after the Zelensky announcement. The White House was called and obviously not happy.

[Mysterian]

19. Really? How do you know?

Do you have ESP?

[former9thward]

20. Know what?

There are several facts. Trying being specific.

[Mysterian]

22. How do you know President Zelensky wasn't supposed to announce the visit?

You know, the claim you made in the post I responded to. Hope it helps!

[former9thward]

24. Because both the White House and Pentagon refused to comment or confirm the trip.

After being asked about it by the media after Zelensky made his announcement.

[BumRushDaShow]

33. Well...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142907898

Come in, do their assessment, get the stills (and in this case even video some of the of it), release to the press, and out.

[erronis]

8. Maybe putin can show his mettle by announcing he will visit the US, France, UK, Germany, etc.

Somehow I think that bunker-boy doesn't want to chance an unfortunate Lemony Snicket event. Such as polonium being being found in his tea. Or novichok on his door-handle. Or open windows. Or poison darts.

This bunker-boy (like his boyfriend in tfg) only wants personal comforts and trusted food tasters.

Strange that the MAGA crowd like such flawed vermin.

[speak easy]

13. ... for a friendly chat over drinks :)

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

21. Here Vlad, have some tea.

[blue-wave]

14. The truth is we don't know if

Zelenskiy was approved by the White House to announce this or not. They might have already visited Kyiv, they might not have. They could be there at this moment or not. And maybe they will visit at a later date.

Let's see what happens and pray everyone is safe.

[BootinUp]

17. I agree. nt

[Lovie777]

15. I'll bet that perked up Putin's ears .....

[Rebl2]

16. Nothing like

telling the enemy.

[gab13by13]

23. No way Zelenskyy announces that without approval,

I think it's a smart move, if anything happens it will be a deliberate act. If it was a secret and something bad happened, Russia would have plausible deniability, ball is in tough guy Putin's court. Plus, if missiles are fired at Blinken and Austin, there are going to be F-35's patrolling Ukraine.

No way in hell anything happens to the plane bringing Austin and Blinken, there will be plenty of US fighter jets escorting the plane.

How they get to the meeting will be kept a secret. They meet in an underground bunker, it would take a huge bomb to penetrate it and I'm sure the US is patrolling the skies.

[speak easy]

26. You think they are going to fly them in, giving Russia appropriate notice?

[gab13by13]

27. What will Russia do with F-35 escorts?

They won't be taking an Uber.

[Marcuse]

32. That's how we got Yamamoto.