President Biden arrived in Ukraine on Monday for an unannounced visit to Kyiv, where he met President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the country – and said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ‘war of conquest’ was failing. ”
Biden delivered a speech at the Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv to announce half a billion dollars in additional aid and to reassure Ukraine of U.S. and allied support.
“A year later, kyiv is up, Ukraine is up, democracy is up,” he said. “Americans are with you and the world is with you.”
Biden stressed that “it’s not just about freedom in Ukraine…it’s about the freedom of democracy as a whole.”
He said: “Putin’s war of conquest is failing. Putin thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. He thought he could survive us. I don’t think he thinks that right now.
Biden said the Russian strongman was “just plain wrong”.
“A year later, the proof is here, in this room. We are here together,” he said.
He added: “I thought it was essential that there was no doubt, none, about
American support for Ukraine during the war. The Ukrainian people have stepped up in a way that few have ever done in the past. »
The commander-in-chief arrived in the capital – where he was greeted by US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink – at 1 a.m. ET, saying: “It’s good to be back in Kyiv.
He noted that the visit is his eighth to the city.
“Each time more important,” Biden said, adding that he decided to visit this time to impress on Zelensky that the United States is “here to stay.”
“We’re not leaving,” Biden said.
Zelensky said he and Biden discussed long-range weapons during the visit.
“Your visit is an extremely important sign of support for all Ukrainians,” he told his American counterpart.
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The two leaders then proceeded to the gold-domed St. Michael’s Church, where they paid their respects to those who lost their lives in the conflict – then left shortly before the air raid sirens sounded.
Biden is traveling with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Deputy Chief of Staff Jen O’Malley Dillon and Personal Assistant Annie Tomasini, according to CNN.
Air Force One took off in secret from Joint Base Andrews at 4:15 a.m. ET on Sunday after speculation mounted for weeks that Biden would visit Ukraine around the Feb. 24 anniversary of the Russian invasion.
But the White House had insisted that no presidential trip to Ukraine was planned.
The surprise visit also marks an act of defiance against Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had hoped his army would invade kyiv within days.
The White House said Biden would announce more sanctions against Moscow and military support for Ukraine, including artillery munitions, anti-armour systems and air surveillance radars.
With pole wires
New York Post
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