Celebrating Ties with Brazil
Before attending the G20 Meeting Rio de Janeiro, Secretary Blinken met with Brazilian President Lula in Brasilia. The Secretary commended the President for defending workers’ rights through the U.S.-Brazil Partnership for Workers Rights and acknowledged Brazil’s global leadership on climate issues.
Brazil and the U.S. are partners on many issues including combating the climate crisis and advancing human and labor rights.
“As we approach 200 years of U.S.-Brazil relations, our ties are stronger than ever,” the Secretary said on Twitter/X.
Secretary Blinken Attends G20 Meeting
At the G20 meeting, the Secretary engaged world leaders on shared priorities including food insecurity, climate change, global health, workers’ rights, and geopolitical instability.
The United States expressed support for Brazil’s focus on reducing geopolitical tensions and global governance reform. Participants also sought to address the humanitarian crisis in Haiti.
“The world is stronger and more prosperous when we work together to tackle our shared issues,” Secretary Blinken said on Twitter/X.
Meeting Argentinian Leaders
 Secretary Blinken visited Buenos Aires for his first meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei. They discussed sustainable economic growth, a shared commitment to human rights and democratic governance, critical minerals, and enhancing trade and investment that benefits both countries.
“The depth of our conversation reflects the strong desire of our nations to deepen our partnership and strengthen our ties even more,” the Secretary said on Twitter/X.
Marking Two Years of Russia’s Invasion in Ukraine
 February 24 marked two years since Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As Russia’s unprovoked invasion enters its third year, Ukrainians are confronting the war’s devastation with resilience and strength.
Secretary Blinken explained why we are not giving up on Ukraine in the latest edition of our flagship email “From The Secretary’s Desk,” which features the Secretary's remarks and speeches on important current events.
Sanctioning Russia Following Aleksey Navalny’s Death
In response to Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine and the death of Aleksey Navalny, the U.S. announced sanctions against more than 500 individuals and entities in Russia. Secretary Blinken noted that there is a clear link between Russia’s authoritarianism, its crackdown on domestic dissent, and its aggression abroad.
“The actions we took against Russia today in the wake of Aleksey Navalny's death and the two-year anniversary of Russia's aggression against Ukraine represent the largest number of people or entities designated in a single action taken by the United States,” the Secretary said February 23 on Twitter/X.
Protecting Ukraine’s Heritage
Ukraine’s cultural identity and heritage are under threat because of Russia’s invasion. The State Department announced its latest project to protect and digitize collections of the State Archival Services of Ukraine (SAS), according to a press statement.
The project includes training for SAS staff in the management and digitization of archival records at risk of damage or destruction. The efforts will ensure that Ukrainian history will be safeguarded for generations to come.
In February 2023, the State Department launched the Ukraine Cultural Heritage Response Initiative to support Ukraine's preservation efforts. The U.S. has partnered with Ukraine on cultural heritage protection for more than 20 years.
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