United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveling tomorrow to Europe and will tour countries bordering Ukraine.  He should travel to Kyiv.  Perhaps, he will. 

Discussions within some capitals include a proposal for delegations of senior-level government officials traveling (by air or rail) to Kyiv and then disperse throughout the city, which is an essential component of the proposal.  Then daring the Russian Federation to harm them.  There is an increasing belief that large delegations of senior leadership from European Union (EU) member countries (and perhaps others) would require the Russian Federation to pause military activities.  Ponder the optics of motorcades carrying foreign ministers traversing the city of Ukraine- with the Russian Federation military planners not knowing where they would be from moment to moment.  And, the motorcades of media representatives following along…It’s a high risk, high reward proposition and an optically effective strategy.

Secretary Blinken’s Travel to Belgium, Poland, Moldova, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia
03/02/2022 02:35 PM EST

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Belgium, Poland, Moldova, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia from March 3 to 8, 2022. The trip continues extensive consultations and coordination with our NATO Allies and European partners about the Russian Federation’s continued premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified war against Ukraine.

Secretary Blinken will begin his trip in Brussels, Belgium where he will participate in a NATO Foreign Ministerial, meet with EU counterparts, participate in a G7 Ministerial Meeting, and hold additional meetings with partners to discuss the global response to Russia’s invasion, including Allies’ and partners’ continued coordination on imposing massive consequences and severe economic costs on Russia.

The Secretary will then travel to Poland on March 5, where he will meet with Polish leaders, including Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, to discuss further security assistance in the face of Russia’s continued aggression and unprovoked attack on Ukraine. He will also thank Poland for generously welcoming hundreds of thousands of displaced persons from Ukraine and discuss how the United States can augment humanitarian assistance efforts for those fleeing Putin’s war.

The Secretary will then travel to Chisinau, Moldova to meet with President Maia Sandu, Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita, and Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu. During his stop, the Secretary will discuss support for Moldova’s efforts to receive and assist refugees fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as U.S. support for Moldova’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

The Secretary will then travel to Vilnius, Lithuania on March 6 to meet with President Gitanas Nauseda, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, and Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis. On March 7, the Secretary will travel to Riga, Latvia, to meet with President Egils Levits, Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins, and Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics. He will travel to Tallinn, Estonia, on March 8 to meet with President Alar Karis, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, and Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets. During all three stops, he will discuss joint efforts to support Ukraine, strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defense, promote democracy and human rights, and pursue deeper economic and energy cooperation with our Baltic Allies.