Lammy and Blinken to Undertake First Joint Visit to Ukraine in Over a Decade

According to Sky News, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy has announced that he will travel to Kyiv with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken later this week. This visit marks the first joint trip of its kind in over a decade.

During a press conference in London, Lammy emphasized the close alliance between the UK and the US, stating, “We are the closest of allies, so I’m delighted that we will travel together, demonstrating our commitment to Ukraine.”

In addition to the joint visit, Secretary Blinken’s trip to Europe includes significant diplomatic engagements. According to a statement from the US Department of State, Blinken’s itinerary covers the United Kingdom, Ukraine, and Poland from September 9 to 12, 2024. In London, Blinken will open the US-UK Strategic Dialogue and meet with senior officials to discuss a range of issues including support for Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, and the Middle East.

On September 11, Blinken and Lammy will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials to discuss ongoing support for Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression and strategies for Ukraine’s long-term stability.

The visit to Poland on September 12 will focus on deepening defense and energy cooperation and discussing NATO’s role in supporting Ukraine’s defense. In the context of the trip, Secretary Blinken has also announced plans to address the provision of long-range weapons to Ukraine.

Earler, Secretary Blinken also revealed that President Biden plans to discuss the possibility of allowing Ukraine to use long-range weapons against Russian targets in a meeting with the British Prime Minister on Friday. This discussion reflects ongoing considerations about how best to support Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s full-scale invasion.