Biden flies in to Ukraine on surprise visit and his video has taken Internet by storm
As the world was preparing to mark one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, US President Joe Biden on Monday (February 20) made a surprise visit to Kyiv. While air raid sirens were going on and off, Biden met Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and reaffirmed the US support for the nation.
Biden's motorcade arrived at the Mariinsky Palace just after 8.30 am local time (1.30 am ET). He was greeted at the entrance by Zelensky and his wife, Olena Zelenska.
According to some reports, the US secret service & Pentagon didn’t want Biden to visit Kyiv and there were plans for him to meet Zelensky at the Polish border or in Lviv. But the decision to visit the capital city, which often comes under Russian missile attacks, is being seen as a strong statement from the US President.
This is Biden's first visit to a war zone as President.
What Biden said: Biden said that 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, said the US President.
"We would remain with Ukraine as long as it takes. We reaffirm our unwavering and unflagging commitment to Ukraine's democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity," a statement released by the White House read.
More weapons from the US: Biden said he 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.
"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 US 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," Biden said.
'Ukraine stands, democracy stands': The US President recalled that there were fears a year ago that Russia's invasion forces might quickly take the Ukrainian capital.
"One year later, Kyiv stands," Biden said. "Ukraine stands. Democracy stands. The Americans stand with you and the world stands with you."
Talking to Biden, Zelensky said that the Ukrainian forces are "inflicting extremely tangible losses" on Russian troops in the strategic eastern town of Vuhledar. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram that Biden's visit was an "extremely important sign of support for all Ukrainians" and posted a photo of the two leaders shaking hands.