US Secretary of State Antony Blinken surprised many on Tuesday as he took center stage at a night club in Kyiv, Ukraine, where besides addressing the crowd, he also showcased his musical prowess. Blinken expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian people, particularly those in the embattled northeast city of Kharkiv.
Before his guitar performance, he said, “The United States is with you, so much of the world is with you and they’re fighting not just for a free Ukraine, but for the free world. And the free world is with you, too.”
Joining the local band 19.99 on stage at Barman Dictat in the capital city, the US Secretary of State and the band performed Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World”. Their act was followed by a poignant performance from a group of Ukrainian veterans clad in military uniforms.
Watch the video of the performance here:
The top U.S. diplomat is the first senior U.S. official to travel to Ukraine after U.S. Congress passed last month a $61 billion military aid package following a delay of several months during which Russia gained advantage on the battlefield.
In a policy speech at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, Blinken acknowledged the delay of U.S. weapons made Ukraine more vulnerable to Russia’s attacks but said Kyiv can count on Washington’s unwavering support because the American people understood that Russia will not stop in Ukraine.
“Putin is ramping up yet another offensive against Ukraine in Kharkiv and across the east, sending wave after wave of Russian soldiers, Iranian drones, North Korean artillery, and tanks, missiles and fighter jets built with machines and parts supplied by China,” Blinken said.
(With inputs from Reuters)