Secretary Blinken and Defense Secretary Austin visit Ukraine; President Biden requests more aid for Ukraine; Secretary Blinken testifies to Congress about budget; and more.

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View as a webpage  /  Share The Week at State  |  April 24-May 1 Take a look at The Week at State video for a review of key events of the past week, including Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd James Austin III's travel to Ukraine and Poland; Secretary Blinken's testimony before Congress on the foreign affairs budget; the funeral service of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright; and more. Visit our YouTube channel for more videos. Secretary Blinken and Secretary of Defense Austin Visit Ukraine Secretary of State Blinken and Secretary of Defense Austin visited Kyiv to demonstrate the United States' unwavering commitment to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in their struggle against Russian aggression. They met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other senior officials, and also visited Poland and met with leaders there. Watch Secretary Blinken's trip recap video. You can also read Department Spokesperson Ned Price's readout, and visit the trip page on State.gov, to learn more. United with Ukraine President Biden Requests $33 Billion in Aid "In order to sustain Ukraine as it continues this fight, I am sending to Congress a supplemental budget request," President Biden on Twitter. "It will keep weapons and ammunition flowing to the brave Ukrainian fighters and continue delivering economic and humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people." Read the White House fact sheet. President Biden also proposed a package to hold Russia's oligarchs and elites accountable. Meeting with Leader of the Democratic Opposition of Belarus Secretary of State Blinken and Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met with Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, leader of the democratic opposition of Belarus. "I welcomed the chance to meet with @Tsihanouskaya. We discussed how the citizens of Belarus reject the Lukashenka regime's role in Russia's war against Ukraine, as well as our shared priorities for advancing accountability and the rule of law in Belarus," Deputy Secretary Sherman on Twitter. Read Spokesperson Ned Price's readout. Investing in Diplomacy Secretary Blinken Testifies to Congress on Proposed Budget "I addressed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) today, at a time when the need for an effective foreign policy has been set out in stark terms by the Russian government's brutal war on Ukraine. The Kremlin's aggression has highlighted all the ways we need U.S. diplomacy," Secretary Blinken on Twitter. Access his Opening Remarks to the SFRC as well as the Senate Committee on Appropriations and Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, He also delivered remarks before the House Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Science, Technology, and Innovation World Intellectual Property Day On World Intellectual Property Day, the United States celebrates the innovators and creators who enrich our lives. This year's #WorldIPDay highlights emerging leaders and their contributions to making IP rights stronger, more competitive, and resilient. Watch @EconatState's Tarek Fahmy's remarks to young entrepreneurs on Twitter. Future of the Internet "Today, alongside more than 50 partners, the United States launched the Declaration for the Future of the Internet, a commitment to promote an open, global Internet for the benefit of people everywhere," Secretary Blinken on Twitter. Read the White House fact sheet and watch the video launch on State.gov. Human Rights and Democracy First Interagency Report on Advancing LGBTQI+ Human Rights "We released the first-ever public U.S. government report showing our work to advance the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons globally. We urge all governments to act with us to support LGBTQI+ human rights defenders in their tireless and noble work," Secretary Blinken on Twitter. Learn more about how we support the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons, read the report, and read the press briefing with Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons Jessica Stern.  Also, @glifaa (Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies) celebrated their 30th anniversary at their annual Pink Party. In honor of their work to advance LGBTQI+ pride in the foreign affairs community, @MayorBowser and her team proclaimed Saturday "glifaa Day" in the District of Columbia. COVID-19 Recovery 529 million COVID-19 Vaccines Donated From the first vaccine against smallpox to the newest vaccines to prevent severe cases of COVID-19, vaccines save lives. During #WorldImmunizationWeek, the United States is proud to celebrate the 529 million COVID-19 vaccine doses we have donated to over 110 countries and economies. Visit our COVID-19 Vaccine Deliveries page on State.gov for more about our donations around the world. Our Workforce Modernizing the Foreign Service Selection Process To meet the Secretary's goals to modernize American diplomacy, win the competition for talent, and ensure that all applicants can present a full picture of their individual qualifications, the Department of State is announcing improvements to the Foreign Service selection process. The Department is moving away from the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) as a pass/fail gateway test and expanding focus on a candidate's education and experience for a more holistic approach in the selection process. In Memoriam Remembering Secretary Albright "Freedom endures against all odds — in the face of every aggressor — because there are always those who will fight for it. And in the 20th and 21st centuries, freedom had no greater champion than Madeleine Albright. May she always be a light to all those in the darkest places," President Biden on Twitter. Watch a recording of the funeral service. Explore the significance of Secretary Albright's pins, and read reflections from Secretary Blinken, Former Secretary Hillary Clinton, Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy Liz Allen, Spokesperson Ned Price, Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman, and Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Brian McKeon on Twitter. Holidays and Commemorations Holocaust Remembrance Day "On #HolocaustRemembranceDay, we remember the six million Jews, as well as the Roma and Sinti, Slavs, disabled persons, LGBTQI+ individuals, and others, who were murdered by the Nazis. We remember the Holocaust and honor the vow #NeverAgain by acting against injustice," Secretary Blinken on Twitter. This Week May 1-7: Public Service Recognition Week May 1-7: Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink travels to Cambodia and Laos May 2-7: Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman travels to South Africa, Angola, Gabon, and France May 3: World Press Freedom Day May 6: Foreign Affairs Day Looking Ahead May 12: 52nd Annual Washington Conference on the Americas May 12-13: U.S.-ASEAN Summit May 24: The National Museum of American Diplomacy Presents: Diplomacy and the Emancipation Proclamation June 6-10: Ninth Summit of the Americas Useful links News, information, and guidance about the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Travel advisories and updates on international travel for U.S. Citizens from the Department of State Did you know that you can invite a representative from the Department of State to speak at your school, business, agency or organization? Learn about what we do through the firsthand experience of one of our representatives.  Read More at State.gov Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe All  |  Help Privacy Policy

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