US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s rock music performance at a bar in the Ukrainian capital drew harsh criticism after a video of the performance went viral on social media.
Blinken, who made a surprise visit to Kiev on Tuesday as the Russia-Ukraine war continues, performed a cover of Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” with a band at the popular underground cocktail bar Berman Diktat. played.
Biden officials pledged that the United States would continue to provide support to Ukraine despite recent setbacks to critical support for Ukraine’s defense operations.
When Mr. Blinken appeared on stage with the Ukrainian band 19.99, the audience erupted in cheers.
“Our soldiers and people, especially in Kharkov in the northeast, have suffered tremendous damage,” he told the crowd.
“But they need to know, and you need to know, the United States is with you, many countries of the world are with you, and they stand not only for a free Ukraine, but for a free world. You are fighting, and the free world is with you,” he added.
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Blinken under fire for ‘ill-timed’ performance
Many X users criticized the top US diplomat’s performance as inadequate given the ongoing conflict with Ukraine and Russia.
Some Ukrainians even criticized him for what they thought was a misjudgment, given Russia’s recent advances into northwestern Ukraine.
In a Facebook post, Svitlana Matviyenko, director general of the NGO Legislative Initiative Agency, called the US Secretary of State’s performance “inappropriate”, noting that this was when Russia launched a new offensive in the Kharkiv region. .
“The Kharkov region has been wiped off the face of the earth, people have left their homes, Kharkov is being bombed. The Sumy region is preparing, and US government officials are singing songs in Kiev bars.” she wrote.
In an interview with X, Ukrainian veteran Ole Simoroz, who lost both legs in the conflict, criticized the performance, calling it “as inappropriate as possible.”
“It’s not the right time, and it’s not the right time at all. Too many people are dying every day because we don’t have enough weapons and enough support from our allies,” he wrote.
“Therefore, such a concert, I’m sorry to say, is completely uncool and inappropriate. I advise the Secretary of State to visit military cemeteries rather than bars,” Simoloz added.
Ukrainian politician Bogdan Yaremenko said Blinken’s performance was ill-timed.
Yaremenko thanked the United States for its valuable assistance, but said, “But what gives the impression that the United States is playing for the free world is not rock’n’roll, but other music, similar to Russian chansons.” “I can’t get rid of that impression,” he said.
Jimmy Rushton, a foreign policy expert in Kiev, called the performance “stunningly tone-deaf.”
“This is not how it should be.” [f—ing] Vacation; Ukrainian soldiers are now fighting and dying on the front lines in droves, and Blinken is pretending to be a rock star in a Kiev bar.”
Blinken also faced domestic criticism from the Republican National Committee (RNC), who said, “This is not a serious administration.”
“For the Secretary of State of the United States to abandon his professional dignity and sing the song “Rockin’ in the Free World” to a nation facing complete demographic collapse thanks to the “free world.” , embarrassingly appropriate as the country’s military is collapsing in real time,” one X user responded.
Blinken landed in war-torn Ukraine to meet with government leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, to show U.S. support for the country. It was the first formal consultation since Congress approved a major foreign aid package that included $60 billion for Ukraine’s army and air defense systems.
