![Blinken was set to discuss Afghanistan troop withdrawals with European counterparts in Brussels, Belgium on Wednesday [Johanna Geron/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-04-14T101603Z_635076972_RC2MVM9AP6S3_RTRMADP_3_USA-DIPLOMACY-BLINKEN.jpg?resize=570%2C380)
The US top diplomat spoke shortly before he was set to meet with his European counterparts in Brussels.
NATO
![Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba (left) flew to Brussels for talks with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg (right) a day after Kyiv accused the Kremlin of ignoring its request for talks [Francisco Seco/Pool/AP]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/AP_21103320701064.jpg?resize=570%2C380)
While NATO decries the massing of Russian troops to the border, the Kremlin slams Washington’s support for Kyiv.
![US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with his German counterpart Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer in Berlin [Kay Nietfeld/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-04-13T092646Z_111896920_RC2XUM93MLBR_RTRMADP_3_GERMANY-USA-AUSTIN.jpg?resize=570%2C380)
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announces an additional 500 troops, calming German fears of drawdown planned by Trump.
![The United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will meet with their NATO counterparts this week [File: Al Drago/The Associated Press]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/AP_21095698064753.jpg?resize=570%2C380)
They are also expected to discuss the Iran nuclear accord and the Russian military build-up along the border of Ukraine.
![Russia is openly opposed to Ukraine joining NATO and recently warned the alliance against deploying troops to the country [File: Sergei Supinsky/AFP]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/000_1LW1KD.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls on security alliance to send ‘signal’ to Moscow amid rising regional tensions.
![Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (centre) said that in a Friday phone call that lasted 50 minutes, US President Joe Biden assured him 'Ukraine will never be left alone against Russia's aggression' [File: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service via Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ukraine.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
The phone call comes as Western nations and NATO express concern over Russian troop movements near the Donbass region.
![The Taliban said it was committed to the February 2020 US deal which it termed the 'most sensible and shortest path' to end the conflict [File: Patrick Semansky/ Pool/AP]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/AP_21031477927120.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
US President Joe Biden on Thursday said it would be hard to withdraw the last US troops by the May 1 deadline.
![US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a news conference at the end of a NATO Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels [Olivier Hoslet/The Associated Presss]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/AP_21083461864124.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
In speech, Blinken tells his European counterparts US ‘won’t force allies into an us-or-them choice’ on China.
![Blinken's statements were a stark shift in tone from the four years of friction under Trump [Yves Herman/AP Photo]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/AP_21082326768250.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
On US secretary of state’s first visit to NATO headquarters, he will also warn Germany about Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
![UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the US return to the climate agreement, from which Trump withdrew in 2017 [File: Bebeto Matthews/The Associated Press]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/AP_20345679555493.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
Return to 2015 climate agreement comes as Biden administration seeks to re-engage in international organisations.
![US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, a former Army general, will participate in the NATO defence ministers meeting this week [Carlos Barria/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021-02-15T171700Z_1346178404_RC25TL9SUOQX_RTRMADP_3_USA-BIDEN-NATO.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
US defence secretary to meet in Brussels with NATO counterparts to discuss alliance’s future, situation in Afghanistan.
![Stoltenberg says NATO 'will not leave before the time is right' [Olivier Hoslet/Pool via Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021-02-15T144025Z_14124817_RC22TL90N7EB_RTRMADP_3_NATO-DEFENCE.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
The Taliban must do more to meet the terms of a 2020 peace deal with the US before withdrawal, says NATO chief.
![Interior Minister Soylu, middle, claims that EU was also enthusiastic over the coup attempt of 2016 [Murad Sezer/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/d81a0ede6a62491daf7616ff4e67119c_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
US State Department calls the accusation by Turkey’s Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu ‘unfounded and irresponsible’.
![Many world leaders including those of top US allies in Europe have expressed shock at the attack on the heart of American democracy by supporters of the Trump administration [File: Francisco Seco/EPA]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/h_55559106.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
Secretary of state’s visit to highlight ‘enduring importance’ of transatlantic partnership and strengthen NATO ties.