President Biden arrived in Ukraine on Monday on an unannounced visit to Kyiv, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of the country — and declared that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “war of conquest is failing.”
Biden delivered remarks at Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv to announce an extra half-billion dollars in assistance and to reassure Ukraine of US and allied support.
“One yr later, Kyiv stands, Ukraine stands, Democracy stands,” he said. “The Americans stand with you and the world stands with you.”
Biden emphasized that America’s commitment to supporting Ukraine is “not nearly freedom in Ukraine … it’s about freedom of democracy at large.”
In his speech, Biden took aim at his Russian counterpart and said the strongman has “just been plain fallacious” about his calculations before entering the war.
“Putin’s war of conquest is failing. Putin thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. He thought he could outlast us. I don’t think he’s considering that without delay,” he said.
“One yr later, the evidence is correct here on this room. We stand here together,” he continued.
Biden explained that he made the visit to Kyiv because he “thought it was critical that there not be any doubt, none in any respect, about US support for Ukraine within the war.”
“The Ukrainian people have stepped up in a way that few people ever have up to now,” he said.
The commander in chief arrived within the capital city — 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 town.
“Every time more significant,” Biden said, adding that he decided to go to this time to make it clear to Zelensky that the US is “here to remain.”
“We’re not leaving,” Biden said.
Zelensky said he and Biden discussed long-range weapons throughout the visit.
“Your visit is an especially necessary sign of support for all Ukrainians,” he told his US counterpart.
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The 2 leaders later went to the gold-domed St. Michael’s Church, where they paid their respects to those that lost their lives within the conflict – and left shortly before air raid sirens sounded.
Biden is traveling with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Deputy Chief of Staff Jen O’Malley Dillon and private aide Annie Tomasini, in line with CNN.
Air Force One took off in secret from Joint Base Andrews at 4:15 a.m. ET Sunday after speculation mounted for weeks that Biden would pay a visit to Ukraine across the Feb. 24 anniversary of the Russian invasion.
However 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 military would overrun Kyiv in a matter of days.
The White House said Biden would announce more sanctions on Moscow and military support for Ukraine, including artillery ammunition, anti-armor systems and air surveillance radars.
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President Biden arrived in Ukraine on Monday on an unannounced visit to Kyiv, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of the country — and declared that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “war of conquest is failing.”
Biden delivered remarks at Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv to announce an extra half-billion dollars in assistance and to reassure Ukraine of US and allied support.
“One yr later, Kyiv stands, Ukraine stands, Democracy stands,” he said. “The Americans stand with you and the world stands with you.”
Biden emphasized that America’s commitment to supporting Ukraine is “not nearly freedom in Ukraine … it’s about freedom of democracy at large.”
In his speech, Biden took aim at his Russian counterpart and said the strongman has “just been plain fallacious” about his calculations before entering the war.
“Putin’s war of conquest is failing. Putin thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. He thought he could outlast us. I don’t think he’s considering that without delay,” he said.
“One yr later, the evidence is correct here on this room. We stand here together,” he continued.
Biden explained that he made the visit to Kyiv because he “thought it was critical that there not be any doubt, none in any respect, about US support for Ukraine within the war.”
“The Ukrainian people have stepped up in a way that few people ever have up to now,” he said.
The commander in chief arrived within the capital city — 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 town.
“Every time more significant,” Biden said, adding that he decided to go to this time to make it clear to Zelensky that the US is “here to remain.”
“We’re not leaving,” Biden said.
Zelensky said he and Biden discussed long-range weapons throughout the visit.
“Your visit is an especially necessary sign of support for all Ukrainians,” he told his US counterpart.
Commercial
Commercial
The 2 leaders later went to the gold-domed St. Michael’s Church, where they paid their respects to those that lost their lives within the conflict – and left shortly before air raid sirens sounded.
Biden is traveling with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Deputy Chief of Staff Jen O’Malley Dillon and private aide Annie Tomasini, in line with CNN.
Air Force One took off in secret from Joint Base Andrews at 4:15 a.m. ET Sunday after speculation mounted for weeks that Biden would pay a visit to Ukraine across the Feb. 24 anniversary of the Russian invasion.
However 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 military would overrun Kyiv in a matter of days.
The White House said Biden would announce more sanctions on Moscow and military support for Ukraine, including artillery ammunition, anti-armor systems and air surveillance radars.
With Post Wires
