The capital city of Ukraine, Kyiv, is no stranger to official visits, but this one is different.
In a display of strong American support for Ukraine just four days before the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, US President Joe Biden on Monday made a surprise visit to Kyiv, reported The Washington Post.
US President also pledged a USD 500 million military aid package for the war-torn country.
Addressing a joint briefing alongside Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy, Biden said, “We will announce USD 500 million in aid to Ukraine. This will consist of javelins, howitzers, and artillery ammunition. Later, we will announce additional sanctions against companies which are trying to back Russia.” Biden said the package would be announced on Tuesday and that Washington would also provide more ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) in Ukraine’s possession.
Biden reaffirmed America’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
“As we approach the anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, I’m in Kyiv today to meet with President Zelenskyy and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” tweeted Biden.
Biden insisted the US will continue to back Ukraine for “as long as it takes” despite flagging support among the American public and no near-term prospect of peace talks to end the conflict, reported The Washington Post.
The fact the US president is meeting Ukraine’s leader in the heart of the capital in the middle of a full-scale conflict is significant and symbolic and it comes just four days before the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“When Putin launched his invasion nearly one year ago, he thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. He thought he could outlast us. But he was dead wrong,” tweeted Biden.
The US President was spotted outside St Michael Golden-Domed Monastery with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Ukrainian capital was in a tight security lockdown with car traffic halted and even pedestrians blocked from certain streets. Shortly afterwards, an air raid siren went off in the city, reported The Washington Post.
His visit was shrouded in secrecy. Biden was due to leave for an announced visit to Poland from Washington on Monday evening.
Earlier, major motorcade was spotted in Kyiv amid speculations that Biden is visiting the country.
Heavy US security has been deployed near Ukraine’s border as the White House had in a statement said that Biden is heading to Poland for a two-day visit to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, returning to the region as the war enters a volatile new phase without a clear path to peace.
Biden will arrive in Warsaw on Tuesday where he will meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda, the White House said in a statement on Sunday.
