Former US ambassador to Estonia, George Kent, who previously worked at the embassy in Kyiv and oversaw Ukrainian affairs at the State Department, is cycling across the United States with his family to raise funds for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In an interview with Ukrinform, he stated, “I didn’t just want to bike across America; I aimed to do it with a specific purpose and idea, so I looked for ways to help Ukraine.”
According to him, the goal of the bike ride is to raise funds for three specially equipped vehicles for Ukrainian units and to inform ordinary Americans who are unaware of the situation in Ukraine about why it is crucial for the US to support the country.
Kent plans to cover approximately 6,900 kilometers from the West Coast of America to the capital, Washington, together with his wife, who has Crimean Tatar roots, and their 25-year-old son. They have already completed more than half of the route and aim to finish in early October.
He also noted that the main message of his initiative for Ukrainians is that “most Americans, both Democrats and Republicans, support Ukraine.” He emphasized that people in the US want Ukraine to succeed so that the US continues to provide more support, and this is felt almost daily during the bike tour.
“Not everyone, but a remarkable number of people feel this way, and they are on Ukraine's side. So, I think this is a reminder for Ukrainians: you are not alone, people in America admire Ukraine’s determination. They understand that this is important not just for Ukraine’s survival, but also for countries like the United States and those in Europe,” concluded the former high-ranking diplomat.