During an unexpected visit to Kyiv, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stepped outside his diplomatic role and picked up an electric guitar to perform Neil Young’s ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’ alongside a local band at a bar named ‘Diktat’. Blinken’s performance aimed to uplift the spirits of Ukrainians facing Russian aggression, with the song’s lyrics echoing the fight for freedom and the support of the international community. The video of Blinken’s performance went viral, drawing mixed reactions online. Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry interpreted the visit as a sign of growing American concern over the war’s progression, while the Defense Ministry reported shooting down Ukrainian missiles targeting Crimea.