Foreign Minister João Gomes Cravinho considered that the surprise visit made this Monday by US President Joe Biden to Kiev sends an unequivocal message of support for Ukraine, but also another “very clear” one for Moscow.
According to the head of Portuguese diplomacy, who was speaking at the end of a meeting of European Union (EU) foreign ministers in Brussels, in addition to demonstrating “solidarity and support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people”, Biden’s measure sends “an equally clear message for President [russo, Vladimir] Putin”.
“In the sense of what most of the world already understood, but it seems that he did not understand: that he is not going to win this war,” he said.
Commenting that “there are moments when gestures are more eloquent than long speeches”, João Gomes Cravinho considered that “President Biden’s visit is particularly eloquent”.
“I think President Biden’s visit shows very clearly that we are very close, in the United States and in the European Union, in Ukraine and we will not let Ukraine fall,” he said.
During a surprise visit to kyiv today, Joe Biden promised Ukraine more weapons and assured the country of America’s unconditional support in the face of the Russian invasion.
“I will announce the delivery of other essential equipment, including artillery ammunition, anti-armor systems and airborne surveillance radars,” Joe Biden said, according to a statement from the US presidency.
In addition to this additional aid to Ukraine worth 500 million dollars (467 million euros), Joe Biden said that this week he will announce more sanctions against Russia.
Biden made this announcement in a statement with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, at the Mariinsky Palace in kyiv.
“A year later, kyiv is on its feet. And Ukraine is standing. Democracy lives on,” Biden said.
Zelensky thanked the US leader for his presence in Kiev and revealed that they talked “about long-range weapons and weapons that could still be supplied to Ukraine, but were not supplied before”, without elaborating.
The White House had not announced Biden’s visit to kyiv for security reasons.
The US president’s visit to Ukraine comes at a time when Biden is trying to hold allies in support of Kiev together, as both sides prepare to step up offensives as soon as spring begins.
Zelensky has been pressing his allies to speed up the delivery of promised weapons and has called on the West to send fighter jets, something Biden has refused.
The purpose of Biden’s visit to Kiev, and later Warsaw, is to underscore that the United States is prepared to support Ukraine “as much as necessary” to repel Russian forces, despite polls indicating declining support. public to direct financial support. and military aid.
The Russian military offensive on Ukrainian territory, launched on February 24 last year, plunged Europe into what is considered the most serious security crisis since World War II (1939-1945).
Source: TSF
