Third Cabinet member visits Ukraine as Biden’s absence looms

Jack Birle June 21, 11:59 AMJune 21, 11:59 AM Video Embed

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland made a surprise visit to Ukraine, marking the third Cabinet official to visit since the start of the war despite President Joe Biden’s absence from the invaded country.

Garland met with Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova on Tuesday, and the two discussed war crime investigations into Russian forces and reaffirmed the “U.S. Commitment to Help Identify, Apprehend, and Prosecute Individuals Involved in War Crimes and Atrocities,” a Justice Department official said in a tweet.

“The United States is sending an unmistakable message: There is no place to hide,” Garland said. “We and our partners will pursue every avenue available to ensure that those who are responsible for these atrocities are held accountable.”

Garland became the third Cabinet official to visit the warring nation behind Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, both of whom visited in April.

Despite offering supportive rhetoric and supplies to the invaded country, Biden has not visited Ukraine since the war began in February. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the U.S. leader to visit.

“It’s his decision, of course, and about the safety situation, depends, but I think the leader of the United States, that’s why he should come here to see,” Zelensky said in April.

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Biden cited security concerns for his inability to travel to Ukraine.

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