Blinken heads to Europe, Ukraine, Gaza and trade talks on agenda

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is traveling to France and Belgium this week for wide-ranging talks that will include discussing the situation in Ukraine, Gaza and Haiti as well as trade talks with the European Union and Armenia.

Blinken begins his trip in Paris, where the State Department said he will meet with President Emmanuel Macron to discuss supporting Ukraine, preventing the expansion of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and bringing stability to Haiti .

The United States and France have been Ukraine’s biggest backers in the two years since Russia invaded its neighbor.

Blinken will also express U.S. support for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization during talks with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.

As the alliance celebrates its 75th anniversary, America’s top diplomat will travel to Brussels for a meeting of NATO foreign ministers.

While in Brussels, Blinken is also scheduled to meet with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

The United States, the European Union and Armenia are scheduled to hold a trilateral meeting on Friday, which the State Department said will focus on “U.S. and EU support for Armenia’s economic resilience as Armenia works to diversify its trading partnerships and address humanitarian needs.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will lead their respective delegations.

Separate U.S.-EU trade and technology talks will end Blinken’s stay in Belgium.