ASPEN, Colo. (AP) 鈥 Ukraine is on its way to being able to 鈥渟tand on its own feet鈥 militarily, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday, noting that more than 20 other countries have pledged to maintain their own military and financial aid to the country even if the U.S. were to withdraw its support under a different president.
Blinken for the first time directly addressed the possibility that could win the November election and back away from commitments to Ukraine. The U.S., under President Joe Biden, has been the most important supporter of Ukraine's more than two-year .
Trump's public comments have varied between criticizing U.S. backing for Ukraine's defense and supporting it, while his , has been a leader of Republican in U.S. military and financial assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in 2022.
Concerns among Ukraine and its supporters that the country could lose vital U.S. support have increased as and .
Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke on the phone Friday.
鈥淚 noted the vital bipartisan and bicameral American support for protecting our nation鈥檚 freedom and independence,鈥 Zelenskyy wrote on X, saying they agreed 鈥渢o discuss at a personal meeting what steps can make peace fair and truly lasting.鈥
Trump said on his social media platform that he appreciated Zelenskyy's outreach and promised to 鈥渆nd the war that has cost so many lives and devastated countless innocent families.鈥
Blinken said Friday that any new administration would have to take into account strong bipartisan backing in Congress for Ukraine in the interests of countering Russian President Vladimir Putin's attempts to expand Moscow's territory and influence.
鈥淓very administration has an opportunity, of course, to set its own policy. We can鈥檛 lock in the future,鈥 Blinken said, speaking to an audience of U.S. policymakers and others at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado.
But he pointed to the security agreements that the United States and more than 20 other allies 鈥 including some NATO partners, Japan and the European Union 鈥 in Washington this month.
鈥淲ere we to renege on that ... I suppose that's possible, but happily we鈥檝e got another 20 some-odd countries that are doing the same thing,鈥 Blinken said.
Ukraine itself was on a trajectory to ensure it 鈥渟tands on its own feet militarily, economically, democratically,鈥 Blinken said.
