Blinken performs with Kyiv band while visiting Ukraine, Zelensky

Secretary of State Antony Blinken finished his day in Ukraine with a musical performance at a bar in Kyiv.

Blinken, 62, who arrived in Ukraine on Tuesday to meet with senior officials, was spotted at The Barman Dictat in Kyiv, where he sang a cover of “Rockin’ in the Free World,” by Neil Young.

During a music set at the bar, the band’s singer introduced Blinken, calling him the “biggest friend of Ukraine,” per video from C-SPAN. The crowd erupted in cheering as Blinken got on stage.

The Barman Dictat is a local favorite cocktail bar in Kyiv and offers a basement bar to relieve stress amid the country’s ongoing war with Russia. Their customer base often includes war veterans and soldiers on leave. 

It’s not the first time Blinken has showcased his musical skills. At an event at the State Department last fall, he performed the Muddy Waters 1954 classic “Hoochie Coochie Man.” He has also released multiple songs on Spotify under the name Ablinken.

Blinken, 62, made a surprise trip to Kyiv, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky in a show of support for the embattled nation. It marks the first official talks since Congress passed its long-awaited foreign aid bill after months of stalled action.

The bill sent $60 billion to Ukraine to assist with its artillery and air defense as Russia continues to move into the northwestern part of the nation.

The State Department said Blinken was slated to discuss battlefield updates, the impact of the U.S.’s security and economic assistance and long-term security and other commitments.

“We meet at a critical moment,” he told students at a visit to Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, per The Associated Press. “The coming weeks and months will demand a great deal of Ukrainians, who have already sacrificed so much. I’ve come to Ukraine with a message: You are not alone.”