Joe Biden surprise visit to Ukraine, met with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy
Diplomat Times (Kyiv)-US President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv and met with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who he has pledged to support in fighting off Russia’s invasion as the war nears the one-year mark.
Biden, who was originally slated to visit neighboring Poland this week, suddenly appeared in the Ukrainian capital on Monday as reports of police sealing off main streets in the city began to swell on local social media.
While Biden was still in Kyiv, a massive air raid alarm went off there and elsewhere across the country — an every-day occurrence in the war-torn nation. There were no immediate reports of any missile launches or explosions.
“When Putin launched his invasion nearly one year ago, he thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided,” Biden said on Twitter. “He thought he could outlast us. But he was dead wrong.”
Biden says As the world prepares to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, I am in Kyiv today to meet with President Zelenskyy and reaffirm our unwavering and unflagging commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
President tweeted “One year later, Kyiv stands. Ukraine stands. Democracy stands. America — and the world — stands with Ukraine”.
One year later, Kyiv stands. Ukraine stands. Democracy stands. America — and the world — stands with Ukraine.
Рік потому Київ стоїть. Україна стоїть. Демократія стоїть. Америка – і світ – стоїть з Україною. pic.twitter.com/6i02u3aFgd
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 20, 2023
President says, Today, in Kyiv, I am meeting with President Zelenskyy and his team for an extended discussion on our support for Ukraine. I will announce another delivery of critical equipment, including artillery ammunition, anti-armor systems, and air surveillance radars to help protect the Ukrainian people from aerial bombardments.
And I will share that later this week, we will announce additional sanctions against elites and companies that are trying to evade or backfill Russia’s war machine.
Over the last year, the United States has built a coalition of nations from the Atlantic to the Pacific to help defend Ukraine with unprecedented military, economic, and humanitarian support – and that support will endure.
I also look forward to traveling on to Poland to meet President Duda and the leaders of our Eastern Flank Allies, as well as deliver remarks on how the United States will continue to rally the world to support the people of Ukraine and the core values of human rights and dignity in the UN Charter that unite us worldwide.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted, Historic. Timely. Brave. I welcomed
@POTUS
in Kyiv as Russian full-scale aggression approaches its one-year mark. I am thankful to the U.S. for standing with Ukraine and for our strong partnership. We are determined to work together to ensure Ukraine’s victory.
Historic. Timely. Brave. I welcomed @POTUS in Kyiv as Russian full-scale aggression approaches its one-year mark. I am thankful to the U.S. for standing with Ukraine and for our strong partnership. We are determined to work together to ensure Ukraine’s victory. pic.twitter.com/EPtH3fLWWD
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 20, 2023