Blinken reiterates U.S. support for Ukraine

Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged “relentless diplomatic efforts” as he met with senior Ukrainian officials in Kyiv on Wednesday. Blinken noted Ukraine faces an unprecedented threat as some 100,000 Russian soldiers remain stationed near its border. In an address marking his first anniversary in office, President Joe Biden on Wednesday said Russia will pay a “dear price” in economic sanctions if it invades Ukraine.

Where do other Western nations stand? European nations have also presented a united front, echoing U.S. warnings of economic consequences. But privately, some European allies are less enthusiastic about any action against Russia, fearing it could harm their economies or their access to Russian natural gas. Western leaders have said they are still hoping for a diplomatic solution. Blinken is scheduled to meet with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Geneva on Friday.

Dig deeper: Listen to Myrna Brown talk to the Heritage Foundation’s Alexis Mrachek about Russian aggression on The World and Everything in It podcast.