US Foreign Minister Flies To Brussels To Meet European Allies To Discuss Ukraine Amid Trump's Policy Concerns

JAKARTA - United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left for Brussels for talks with European allies for fear President-elect Donald Trump would leave Ukraine in his war with Russia.

On his first overseas trip since Trump's victory in the November 5 elections, Foreign Minister Blinken will stop in Brussels ahead of a visit scheduled for Peru and Brazil this weekend.

In a meeting with NATO and EU officials, Blinken will discuss support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression, the US Foreign Ministry announced, without elaborating.

In addition to providing billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine, President Joe Biden seeks to expand NATO and gather countries around the world to isolate Russia after Moscow's full-scale invasion by 2022.

Donald Trump criticized Joe Biden's assistance to Ukraine, sparking concerns about the future of support for President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's government under the White House, Senate, and possibly Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

The Ukrainian military is under increasing pressure from Russia along more than 1,000 km of a stretched frontline where Ukrainian troops are already outnumbered.

Biden officials said they would deploy aid that had been allocated to Ukraine before Trump took office on January 20, in hopes of helping Kyiv forces push back Russian troops, who have acquired territory.

We are working hard to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position, either by increasing aid between now and the end of government and coordinating with partners around the world to ensure they are ready to commit any violations, a US official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official said it not only includes European allies who will meet Blinken in Brussels, but also other countries such as South Korea, which could play an important role given their concern over the deepening alliance between Russia and North Korea.