President Biden arrived in the Ukrainian capital Kiev early Monday morning, making a surprise visit just before the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the country.
Biden made a statement and met with Zelensky at the Mariinsky Palace to announce an additional $500 million in US aid. New support includes howitzers, anti-tank missiles, anti-aircraft surveillance radars, and other ammunition for support, but not new advanced weaponry.
It was Biden’s first visit to Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion a year ago.
Biden was due to visit Poland on Monday to mark the first anniversary of the war, but instead took the nearly 10-hour train ride from the Polish border to visit the Ukrainian capital.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) and U.S. President Joe Biden shake hands during a meeting in Kiev, Ukraine. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)
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Biden said he would visit Ukraine to meet with Zelensky and “reaffirm our unwavering and unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
He said Russian President Vladimir Putin was “completely wrong” in believing Ukraine was weak when it launched an invasion a year ago.
“I’m meeting with President Zelensky and his team to deepen discussions about helping Ukraine,” Biden said. “I am announcing another delivery of critical equipment such as artillery, anti-armor systems and airborne surveillance radars that will help protect the Ukrainian people from airstrikes. We will be announcing sanctions on companies seeking to circumvent or backfill Russia’s war machine.”
President Joe Biden (center) poses with President Zelensky’s spouse Olena Zelensky (left) at the Mariinsky Palace during an unannounced visit to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev, Ukraine I shook hands with (right). (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Poole)
“Last year, the United States built a coalition of nations from the Atlantic to the Pacific to defend Ukraine with unprecedented military, economic and humanitarian assistance that will last,” he continued. .
Biden also said he is looking forward to meetings with Polish President Andrzej Duda and the leaders of the Eastern Allies because he expects the United States to continue rallying the world to help Ukraine. He spent about five hours in the Ukrainian capital before leaving in the early afternoon local time.
Sirens were heard in war-torn Ukraine as Biden arrived in the country.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also announced $5.5 billion in aid to Ukraine during Biden’s visit to President Zelensky.
Biden’s visit comes just before Russia is expected to step up its offensive again after acknowledging a year on from a civil war. Ukrainian officials have warned of a massive missile barrage that Russia could launch on her Friday, February 24.
President Joe Biden (center) poses with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) and President Zelensky’s spouse Olena Zelensky (left) during an unannounced visit at the Mariinsky Palace. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Poole)
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Russia continues its offensive despite Western sanctions and battlefield losses. Ukraine has received a wave of support, mostly from Western countries that are backing defense against Moscow’s aggression.
While many U.S. lawmakers have said aid to Ukraine is their top priority, some have criticized the decision to continue financial aid without proper oversight. He said he shouldn’t have received “a blank check,” but vowed that the Biden administration would support the Zelensky administration “as long as necessary.”
This is breaking news. Check back again for more details. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
