Joe Biden – It has been over a year since Russia invaded Ukraine, and the latter has received support from the United States in fending off its invaders.
On Monday, the US showed its commitment to Ukraine when President Joe Biden visited Kyiv.
Biden’s appearance was kept secret and demonstrated his pledge to help the country in its war against Russia.
The news
President Joe Biden’s visit to Kyiv was kept highly secretive and came at a critical moment in the Russian invasion.
The attackers are reportedly preparing a spring offensive as Ukraine hopes to retake the territory soon.
The visit occurred as air raid sirens rang around Kyiv, and Biden was seen walking with President Volodymyr Zelesnky around St. Michael’s Cathedral.
He arrived in Kyiv at 8 am local time through a lengthy flight from Washington, arriving at the Mariinsky Palace.
Zelensky greeted him, thanking Biden for coming.
During the visit, President Joe Biden announced the United States providing Ukraine with half a billion dollars to assist them.
The package includes the following:
- Artillery ammunition
- More javelins
- Howitzers
In addition, Biden said the United States would impose new sanctions on Moscow this week.
“One year later, Kriv stands. And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands,” said the US President.
Support
The United States is not the only country supporting Ukraine as other Western nations are rushing arms, tanks, and ammunition to change the tides of the war.
With a personal visit, President Joe Biden offers a singular image of American support to Ukraine and Zelensky.
President Vladymyr Zelensky has spent the last year working on getting the world behind his country, appealing for more assistance.
US officials are hopeful that the influx of weaponry would help Ukraine overcome Russia on the battlefield and put Zelensky in a stronger position to negotiate an end to the conflict.
However, it remains to be seen what parameters the Ukrainian president will be willing to accept in potential peace talks.
The US has also refused to comment on what a settlement could look like, stating that it will be Zelensky who decides.
High stakes
President Joe Biden’s Kyiv visit was symbolic, arriving a day before Russian President Vladimir Putin’s planned speech to mark the war’s anniversary.
From Ukraine, Biden declared that Putin’s conquest was failing.
“Putin thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided,” said Biden as Zelensky stood beside him.
“He thought he could outlast us. I don’t think he’s thinking that right now. He’s just been plain wrong.”
“One year later, the evidence is right here in this room. We stand together.”
At the presidential palace, President Joe Biden explained his visit to the Ukrainian capital as the war continues into its second year.
“I thought it was critical that there not be any doubt, none whatsoever, about US support for Ukraine in the war,” said Biden.
“The Ukrainian people have stepped up in a way that few people ever have in the past.”
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The US president highlighted the broad bipartisan support in Washington, saying:
“For all the disagreement we have in our Congress on some issues, there is significant agreement on support for Ukraine.”
“It’s not just about freedom in Ukraine,” he continued. “It’s about freedom of democracy at large.”
According to national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Biden was focused on addressing the coming months of combat when he met with Zelensky.
“The President was very focused on making sure that he made the most of his time on the ground, which he knew was going to be limited,” said Sullivan.
“So he was quite focused on how he was going to approach his conversation with President Zelensky and in part how the two of them were really going to look out over the course of 2023 and try to come to a common understanding of what the objectives are.”
Others visit Ukraine
President Joe Biden has been eager to visit Ukraine for months, especially after other European leaders visited Zelensky in Kyiv.
Among the leaders who came to Ukraine were:
- French President Emmanuel Macron
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
- British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak
- Former British Prime Minister
Biden’s top lieutenants (Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin) also visited Kyiv to pledge further assistance.
Last month, senior administration officials like CIA Director Bill Burns and top White House officials visited the capital of Ukraine.
Furthermore, Dr. Jill Biden, Biden’s wife, visited Ukraine on Mother’s Day Last year.
She met Zelensky in a small city in the southwestern corner of the country in a school converted into temporary housing for displaced Ukrainians.
Anniversary
As the war nears its anniversary on February 24, President Joe Biden hopes to demonstrate his commitment to Ukraine.
However, it remains to be seen how long the United States and the West can last.
During his visit, Biden said it was his eighth visit to the city and described each one as more significant.
Furthermore, President Joe Biden clarified that his visit was to convey to President Vladymyr Zelensky that the United States is “here to stay.”
“We’re not leaving,” said Biden.
Image source: WTTW News
