US President Joe Biden paid a surprise visit to Kiev this Monday, precisely in the week that marks a year of war in Ukraine.
“As we approach the anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, I am in Kiev today to meet with President Zelensky and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said Joe Biden. in a post on Twitter.
As we approach the anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, I am in Kiev today to meet President Zelensky and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
—President Biden (@POTUS) February 20, 2023
The US president’s visit remained secret for security reasons until this Monday, on a day that dawned with the entire Ukrainian territory on alert. Incidentally, air raid warning sirens blared as the US president and Zelensky exited a cathedral they visited together.
Both remained undisturbed in front of a wall in memory of Ukrainian soldiers killed since 2014.
“President Joe Biden, welcome to Kyiv! Your visit is an extremely important sign of support for all Ukrainians,” Zelensky thanked in a post shared on Facebook.
Images were released on social networks of Joe Biden on the streets of Kiev, next to the Ukrainian president.
It’s confirmed! Joe Biden spotted this morning in Kiev. This is a big deal and a historic visit from @POTUS
@ukrpravda_news pic.twitter.com/BkRMfh6dEW– Olga Tokariuk (@olgatokariuk) February 20, 2023
Biden is here – on a walkabout in the center of Kiev. pic.twitter.com/l9uus74Dke
– Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) February 20, 2023
Biden announces more guns to Kiev in an additional $500 million aid
In Kiev, Biden announced a new package of military aid to Ukraine, namely a new one “provision of critical equipment including artillery munitions, anti-armour systems and air surveillance radars to help protect the Ukrainian people from aerial bombardment”, This is according to a statement from the White House.
During the meeting between the two presidents, Biden explained that this is an additional aid of $ 500 million (467 million euros) to help Kiev’s war effort.
The president of the United States explained that the new aid package will include more military equipment, in addition to artillery ammunition, howitzers and Javelin missiles, a portable weapon designed to destroy tanks and other heavy vehicles.
However, Biden did not announce the shipment of other military equipment to Ukraine, such as the F-16 fighters Zelensky says he needs to repel Russia’s advance.
Zelensky thanked the US leader for being in Kiev and revealed that they were talking “about long-range weapons and weapons that can still be delivered to Ukraine but were not delivered before”, without giving further details.
A year after the outbreak of war, “Ukraine is still standing,” Biden said
The US president said he will also announce that new sanctions against Russia targeting Russian elites and companies fueling the war machine in Ukraine.
Biden’s visit to Kiev comes on a day when the heads of European diplomacy are meeting in Brussels to discuss a deal on munitions.
Next to Zelensky, in the Mariinsky Palace, Biden justified the surprise visit to Kiev by saying it was “critical that there was no doubt about US support for Ukraine” in the nearly year-long war. – next Friday, February 24.
During the meeting with the Ukrainian president, Biden recalled the beginning of the Russian invasion. “On that dark night a year ago, the world was literally preparing for the fall of Kiev — it feels like more than a year ago — and perhaps the end of Ukraine.”
He underlined that “a year later Kiev is still standing and Ukraine is still standing.” “Democracy prevails,” he added.
Referring to “Europe’s biggest war in three-quarters of a century”, the US president reaffirmed US support for Ukraine “for as long as it takes”.
“Americans are with you and the world is with you. I must confess that Kiev captured a part of my heart,” Biden declared.
“Historical. Timely. Brave,” Zelensky summarizes when Biden visits Kiev
The Ukrainian president once again thanked the US president’s visit to the Ukrainian capital after the two heads of state met in Washington on Dec. 21, in what was Zelensky’s first trip abroad since the start of the war.
“Historical. Timely. Courageous. I hosted the US president in Kiev as full-scale Russian aggression approaches the one-year mark,” Zelensky said. on social media, where he posted a short video summarizing Biden’s visit to the Ukrainian capital.
Historic. timely. Brave. I welcomed @POTUS in Kiev as full-scale Russian aggression approaches the end of a year. I am grateful to the US for supporting Ukraine and for our strong partnership. We are determined to work together to secure Ukraine’s victory. pic.twitter.com/EPtH3fLWWD
– Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 20, 2023
“We are determined to work together to secure Ukraine’s victory,” Zelensky added.
After the unannounced visit to Kiev, Biden is expected to travel to Poland, the White House has already announced. The US president is expected to deliver a speech in Warsaw on Tuesday, the same day his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, is due to deliver a state-of-the-nation speech.
With Lusa
News updated at 12:34
Source: DN
