Biden Lands in Ukraine as Violence and Hostage-Takings Resume

Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Ukraine
today amid renewed violence (because, you know, the White House
wouldn’t want to risk sending someone important to a hotbed of
militant hostage-takers).

One hot topic will be Ukraine’s presidential election, which is
set for next month. Biden is set to meet tomorrow with the interim
president, interim prime minister, members of parliament, and
activists.

According to the Associated Press, “a senior administration
official…onboard Air Force Two en route to Kiev”
said “the vice president also will follow up on recent U.S.
commitments of non-lethal security assistance and discuss what more
Washington can offer to help.” This will cost the U.S. around $3.5
million and will
include medical supplies, water purification units, and
sleeping mats.

Additionally, Biden will talk about “technical aid,”
according to Radio Free Europe, with a focus
on stepping up Ukraine’s domestic energy production. Russia,
which is the world’s largest exporter of oil and has pipelines
running through Ukraine, has been using threats of hiked up prices
as leverage in the current crisis.

Despite an agreement struck among various parties in Geneva last
Thursday to “de-escalate” the situation, indications of peace were
short-lived. Separatists quickly defied the agreement, saying they
wouldn’t accept anything short of removing the interim leaders from
power. Yesterday, three people were killed at a
separatist-controlled checkpoint. Russia
says Ukrainian nationalists provoked it, while Ukraine’s
intelligence agency says blame rests solely with the Russians.
Time
reports another incidence that may escalate tensions further:
Pro-Russian militants have kidnapped a journalist, whom they
paraded in front of the media. 

For more Reason coverage of Ukraine, click here.