Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken plans to spend this week showing U.S. support for countries facing a hostile Russia during visits to Moldova and the Czech Republic, where he is scheduled to will attend a meeting of NATO foreign ministers that will discuss how to strengthen Ukraine.
Mr. Blinken, who did it overnight stop in Kiev more than two weeks ago, is expected to fly to Chisinau, Moldova’s capital, on Wednesday and meet with Maia Sandu, the nation’s president, who is running for re-election. Ms. Sandu has campaigned for Moldova to join the European Union, and she has scheduled a referendum vote on EU membership on the same day as the general election in October.
She is expected to run against a pro-Russian candidate, and American and European analysts say Moscow will likely try to interfere in the election, like other votes in Russia. Europe. The Biden administration has publicly spoken out about Russian agents carrying out such interference through a variety of means, from hacking to promoting social media campaigns to distribute money for popular politicians.
US officials said Mr Blinken would talk to Ms Sandu and other top officials about potential threats to the country’s democratic process, as well as efforts to govern the country. electricity was created in the pro-Russian separatist region of Transnistria. Moldova recently ended its dependence on gas imports from Russia.
“I predict he will have a strong package of support for Moldova’s transition, both energy independence or less dependence,” said James O’Brien, assistant secretary of state for European affairs. more on resources in the east but also support democracy against threats from Russia.” and Eurasian affairs, said in a phone call with reporters on Friday.
Mr. Blinken plans to announce more details about U.S. aid to address these issues during his visit, Mr. O’Brien said.
He added that the Minister’s message will “highlight Moldova’s progress on the path towards European integration, the consolidation of democracy and the threat posed by Russian interference in its internal processes this country”.
About 1,500 Russian troops are present in Transnistria, east of Moldova and bordering Russia. U.S. officials are closely watching any signs that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia might try to annex the territory. Russia officially said it is seeking a special status for Transnistria.
In the Czech Republic, which State Department officials now refer to as Czechia, at the direction of the country’s government, Mr. Blinken plans to attend a two-day planning session of the Northern Treaty Organization Western Ocean and met with Czech officials.
NATO’s session in Prague, the country’s capital, is intended to prepare for the 80th anniversary meeting of alliance leaders in Washington in July. The group is not expected to declare that Ukraine is currently join NATO, an aspiration that President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated repeatedly both before and after Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began in 2022. However, NATO officials in Prague are expected to Mr. O’Brien said details about the significant show of support for Ukraine’s NATO accession process will be announced in July.
Russian troops are attacking Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city. Ukraine’s war effort is being hampered largely due to a lack of weapons and ammunition, and fewer citizens available to join the fight. President Biden recently signed into law a bill passed by Congress, over Republican opposition, to provide new rounds of military aid to Ukraine, as well as to Israel.
However, Russia is producing ammunition at a rapid pace, and U.S.-led sanctions against the country have not crippled its military industrial capabilities as American officials had hoped. Mr. Biden and his aides said China has played a decisive role in supporting Russia through the sale of dual-use equipment and other exports, allowing Moscow to increase weapons production. Blinken is expected to highlight China’s support for Russia in discussions with NATO counterparts in Prague.
