U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Steve Daines (R-MT) applauded the Biden administration, which announced on Monday that the American embassy will be reopened as soon as possible in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Sens. Moran and Daines sent an April 19 letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging him to reopen the U.S. Embassy to demonstrate confidence in Ukraine and its people during Russia’s ongoing invasion of the country.
“America’s presence and leadership in Ukraine matters,” Sen. Moran said. “Secretary Blinken’s statement to reopen the embassy in Kyiv is a move I called for and support, and I will continue to urge the Biden administration to get this done as quickly as possible.”
America’s European allies have resumed embassy operations in Kyiv, said Sen. Moran, “and it is past time for America to do the same and show our full support for a Ukraine whole and free.”
The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv was closed in mid-February prior to Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine. Blinken said during a press conference Monday in Ukraine that U.S. diplomats would return to the country within the next three weeks.
“The increased U.S. presence demonstrates our support for Ukraine and is part of the U.S. commitment to return our diplomats to our embassy in Kyiv as soon as possible,” State Department Spokesman Ned Price said on April 25, adding that the action will strengthen the State Department’s ongoing commitment to facilitate humanitarian relief efforts and the delivery of assistance to the Government of Ukraine, while providing enhanced support to U.S. citizens.
Sen. Moran and Sen. Daines in March visited the Ukrainian-Polish border with a bipartisan group of senators. Sen. Daines was also one of the first American officials to visit Ukraine earlier this month, according to his staff.
“It’s about time — I’m glad to see the Biden administration listen to my calls to resume diplomatic operations in Ukraine,” said Sen. Daines about the reopening of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv. “The world needs to know that the U.S. has confidence in President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine to prevail in their fight to end Putin’s war of aggression.”