President Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Monday — his first visit to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion began nearly a year ago.
Driving the news: The visit just days ahead of the one-year anniversary of the war is a major sign of U.S. support for Ukraine. Biden said in a statement he traveled to Kyiv to meet with Zelensky and “reaffirm our unwavering and unflagging commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.”
- Speaking from Kyiv, the U.S. president said: “One year later, Kyiv stands. And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands.”
- Zelensky called Biden’s visit “a huge moment for Ukraine.”
The big picture: During the visit, Biden announced an additional half-billion dollars in U.S. assistance for Ukraine.
- Zelensky said he spoke with Biden about “long-range weapons and the weapons that may still be supplied to Ukraine even though it wasn’t supplied before.”
- Biden was already scheduled to arrive in Poland on Tuesday morning for a trip dedicated to marking the one-year anniversary of the war, which began on Feb. 24, 2022. But his trip details regarding the Kyiv visit were kept secret due to security concerns.
What they’re saying: “When Putin launched his invasion nearly one year ago, he thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided.” Biden said in a statement about the visit.
- “He thought he could outlast us. But he was dead wrong,” Biden added.
- “Over the last year, the United States 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,” he said.
Behind the scenes: A Ukrainian government official told Axios that Ukraine had asked for the visit for a long time.
- The official said it was prepared in a very short time, with the highest level of confidentiality.
- “The U.S. President’s historic visit to Kyiv is a clear signal that the U.S. will continue standing by Ukraine until its victory over Russia’s war of aggression,” the Ukrainian official added.
What to watch: Biden said that later this week the U.S. will announce additional sanctions “against elites and companies that are trying to evade or backfill Russia’s war machine.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
