Biden Surprise: He Makes Unannounced Trip to Ukraine

President meets with Zelensky, assures him of US support in war with Russia
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Feb 20, 2023 5:08 AM CST
Biden Surprise: He Makes Unannounced Trip to Ukraine
President Joe Biden, right, meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Mariinsky Palace on an unnanounced visit, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023.   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool)

A big surprise Monday involving President Biden: The US leader made an unannounced visit Monday to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky, a gesture of solidarity that comes days before the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the country. Biden delivered remarks and met with Zelensky at Mariinsky Palace to announce an additional half-billion dollars in US assistance and to reassure Ukraine of American and allied support as the conflict continues, per the AP. “I thought it was critical that there not be any doubt, none whatsoever, about US support for Ukraine in the war,” Biden said.

Biden recalled the fears nearly a year ago that Russia’s invasion forces might quickly take the Ukrainian capital. “One year later, Kyiv stands,” Biden said, jamming his finger for emphasis on his stand decorated with the US and Ukrainian flags. “And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands. The Americans stand with you and the world stands with you.” The Ukraine visit comes at a crucial moment in the war as Biden looks to keep allies unified in their support for Ukraine as the war is expected to intensify with both sides preparing for spring offensives.

The trip also marks an act of defiance against Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had hoped his military would swiftly overrun Kyiv within days. A year later, the Ukrainian capital stands and a semblance of normalcy has returned to the city as the fighting has concentrated in the country’s east, punctuated by cruise missile and drone attacks against military and civilian infrastructure. Zelensky said he and Biden spoke about “long range weapons and the weapons that may still be supplied to Ukraine even though it wasn’t supplied before.” But he did not detail any new commitments.

(More President Biden stories.)

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