US, UK diplomatic leaders to jointly visit Ukraine this week

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy have announced a joint visit to Ukraine this week. 

Their trip comes amid rising concerns about Russia’s intensified invasion of the country and aims to underscore the West’s commitment to Ukraine’s defence, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The visit, described by Lammy as the "first joint visit of this kind for a decade," is seen as a critical moment for reinforcing support for Ukraine. During recent talks in London, Blinken and Lammy discussed urgent international issues, including the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as sanctions against Russia and its allies.

British diplomats have hailed the visit as a reaffirmation of the longstanding "special relationship" between the UK and the US. Blinken’s trip to the UK precedes Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s second visit to the White House scheduled for Friday.

With Russia making incremental territorial gains in eastern Ukraine and the quest for a ceasefire in Gaza remaining elusive, the focus of this round of British-American diplomacy is clear. Blinken emphasized the priority of security assistance to Ukraine, noting that Russia has been escalating its war efforts, including targeting Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure in preparation for winter.

While specifics on the expansion of military aid to Ukraine were not detailed, Blinken highlighted that one of their primary objectives is to "hear directly from the Ukrainian leadership" about their needs and how the West can support them effectively.

In addition to discussions on Ukraine, Blinken and Lammy took the opportunity to address concerns about China, Iran, and North Korea. Blinken criticized these countries for allegedly providing military assistance to Russia.

He announced that the US would impose new sanctions on Iran, accusing it of supplying ballistic missiles to Russia, which are expected to be used in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Secretary of State also noted that Russia and Iran are collaborating on nuclear technology, further complicating the geopolitical landscape.