The White House is considering sending Vice President Kamala Harris to Eastern Europe to show solidarity with Ukraine, according to sources familiar with discussions.
As well as the Polish capital Warsaw and the Romanian capital Bucharest, possible options include a visit to American troops stationed in Romania and a trip to the border with Ukraine, an area that has become the center of a humanitarian emergency as people flee for safety.
Details emerged on Thursday, the eighth day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
With a huge armored column apparently bogged down outside the capital Kyiv, Russian forces turned to huge missile and artillery bombardments to intensify pressure on Ukrainian cities.
A source told The Hill that there is no current discussion of sending President Joe Biden himself to the region.
‘A presidential visit is a heavier logistical lift,’ the source said.
‘The vice president has a smaller footprint and is historically more nimble.’
Harris last month traveled to the Munich Security Conference, where she met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other world leaders to promise firm US action if Vladimir Putin pressed ahead with the invasion.
She also spoke to European leaders this week including the Polish and Romanian prime ministers.
During the conversations she ‘reaffirmed our ironclad commitment to NATO’s Article 5,’ said an official, reassuring allies that the US would come to their defense if attacked.
‘You can expect the vice president will continue to engage with allies and partners on these issues,’ another official told The Hill.
