15-5-2024 (KYIV) In a symbolic show of solidarity, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken strummed a red guitar at a Kyiv basement bar on May 14, delivering a message that the US and much of the world stand with Ukraine in its struggle for freedom.
Mr Blinken, who reaffirmed unwavering US support during his visit to Kyiv amid intensifying Russian attacks, joined the band 19.99 on stage at Barman Dictat. Together, they performed Neil Young’s “Rockin’ In The Free World,” a rock anthem famously released in 1989 just before the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Addressing the crowd before the performance, Mr Blinken said, “Your soldiers, your citizens – particularly in the north-east, in Kharkiv – are suffering tremendously. But they need to know, you need to know, the United States is with you, 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.”
Over a thousand US Troops are abandoned in Niger.
And Blinken rocks out in Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/ZlpmHsAlQc
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) May 14, 2024
After watching most of 19.99’s set, Mr Blinken was introduced by the lead singer as a “great friend of Ukraine.” He then joined them on stage, playing along to the chorus of “keep on rockin’ in the free world.”
The song’s significance harkens back to a time when the Soviet Union was crumbling under the weight of widespread protests, ultimately leading to its dissolution and the independence of numerous nations, including Ukraine.
Dmitry Temnyi, the frontman of 19.99, praised Mr Blinken’s musical talent, stating, “He played well.”
Following 19.99, Ukrainian veterans took the stage, performing in military fatigues as part of the Cultural Forces of Ukraine – an initiative founded in 2022 to bolster Ukrainian morale post-invasion. The platform includes both civilian and military members.
Mr Blinken’s visit marked the first by a senior US official since the US Congress approved a substantial $61 billion military aid package in April. This approval followed months of delays during which Russian forces gained ground on the battlefield.
Arriving in Kyiv by train early on May 14, Mr Blinken’s visit came just days after Russia launched a new ground offensive in Kharkiv, stretching Ukraine’s defences even thinner.
For months, Kyiv has struggled on the battlefield as Russian troops steadily advanced, exploiting Ukraine’s shortages of manpower and artillery. Military aid from Washington, Ukraine’s principal ally, had been delayed due to a blockade by Republicans in the US Congress. However, the aid package eventually passed in April with bipartisan support.
