President Joseph Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Monday morning, days before the year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and stated that Vladimir Putin’s ‘war of conquest’ had failed.
His visit was concealed from public view. After a lengthy train ride from Poland, he arrived with only one reporter and one photographer from the press.
Although there were no indications of Russian missile or air strikes, air raid sirens blared in the besieged Ukrainian capital.
He met with President Zelensky at the Mariinsky Palace and announced a further half a billion dollars in aid, including artillery, ammunition, additional Javelins and Howitzers, as well as additional sanctions against Russia.
Biden stated in a speech, “One year later, Kiev stands.” And Ukraine stands. Democracy endures.’
He stated that Putin had made an error of judgment.
He stated, “Russia’s intention was to erase Ukraine from the map.” Putin’s conquering campaign is failing. The Russian military has lost fifty percent of the region it formerly occupied.
He praised Ukraine’s bravery during the war and revealed that he had visited Kyiv six times in his capacity as vice president.
“I knew I would return,” he stated.
The president was scheduled to depart Washington on Monday evening for a two-day visit to Poland, where he would meet with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Warsaw to discuss a possible increase in the number of US troops in Poland.
In its formal guidance, the White House stated that he will depart Monday evening at 7 p.m.
Instead, he was conducting a covert flight to personally observe the confrontation and give a message of unification. He arrived in the city at eight o’clock in the morning, local time.
Zelensky greeted Biden upon his arrival in Kyiv, stating, “Your presence is a vital message of solidarity for all Ukrainians.”
He is pressuring allies to expedite the supply of arms and requesting fighter jets, a request that Biden has thus far rejected.
During their encounter, Zelensky claimed, “Our negotiations were really beneficial.”
The two leaders then had a stroll through the city before Biden visited the U.S. embassy. He departed the city roughly five hours after his arrival.
President Biden declares that Putin is reeling in the face of an unified West and promises additional funding for Ukraine.
Monday morning, President Biden spoke for ten minutes at the Mariinsky Palace in Kiev. He reaffirmed his commitment to Ukraine’s battle and pledged additional aid.
Here are the primary points:
“Democracy remains”
‘A year ago, the world was actually preparing for the Fall of Kiev… maybe the end of Ukraine.
A year later, Kiev still remains. Ukraine stands. Democracy endures.
The United States and the rest of the world stand with you.
On assistance
“Today’s announcement includes artillery ammo for HIMARs… additional Javelins, anti-armor, and air surveillance radar for the protection of the Ukrainian people.”
“Later this week, we will announce further measures against corporate elites who are attempting to circumvent sanctions and support the Russian military machine’s objectives.”
“And thanks to bipartisan backing in Congress, this week we’re delivering billions in direct financial support, billions in direct direct money that the government can spend immediately to assist in providing citizens with fundamental services.”
Putin is a loser
Russia’s goal was to obliterate Ukraine from the map. Putin’s conquering campaign is failing. The Russian military has lost fifty percent of the region it formerly occupied.
Young, skilled Russians are departing the country in the tens of thousands, unwilling to return. Not only are they quitting the military, but they are fleeing Russia itself because they see no future for themselves there.
On Putin’s error in judgment
Putin believed Ukraine to be weak and the West to be split when he launched his invasion nearly a year ago. He believed he could outlive us. But he was in error.
“As you are aware, Mr. President, I stated at the outset that he is depending on our disunity. He counted on NATO’s incapacity to maintain its unity.
He anticipated that we would not be able to bring in further Ukrainian forces.
He believed he could outlive us. I do not believe he is now thinking that. God is aware of his thoughts.’
Biden was prevented from visiting Kyiv by his Secret Service guards, who feared for the safety of the leader of the free world if he traveled to the war-torn nation.
Biden told Zelensky, when he sat down for a meeting, that he believed it was crucial that there be no doubt, none at all, about the United States’ support for Ukraine in the fight. The Ukrainian people have risen to the occasion in a manner rarely seen in the past.
Following their meeting in the palace, the two startled audiences in central Kyiv by visiting the St. Michael’s Gold-Domed Church and going on a walkabout.
Biden stated, “As the world prepares to commemorate the first anniversary of Russia’s horrific invasion of Ukraine, I am in Kyiv today to meet with President Zelensky and reaffirm our unshakeable support to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.”
Putin believed Ukraine to be weak and the West to be split when he launched his invasion nearly a year ago. He believed he could outlive us. Yet he was completely wrong.
He stated that he will spend the day discussing how to effectively assist Ukraine in its battle.
He stated, “I will announce another shipment of vital weaponry, including artillery ammunition, anti-armor systems, and air surveillance radars, to assist in protecting the Ukrainian people from aerial attack.”
And later this week, we will announce more measures targeting elites and corporations that are attempting to circumvent sanctions or resupply Russia’s military machine.
He arrived to the U.S. embassy in the city about noon.
In southern and eastern Ukraine, the war has already cost hundreds of thousands of lives, displaced millions, and reduced a string of cities to ashes.
A day earlier, Zelensky stated that his forces were inflicting “extraordinarily substantial” damage on Russian forces in the eastern Donbas region near the town of Vuhledar.
The problem is really complex. And we are in conflict. In his nightly video broadcast, he stated, “We are decimating the invaders and inflicting incredibly severe casualties on Russia.”
Assistance from the United States, its allies, and partners is credited with assisting the tenacious Ukrainian resistance in defending its territory.
The United States alone has supplied more than $100 billion in armaments and aid to the country, of which the Pentagon spent $62.3 billion on weapons, ammunition, training, logistics, and pay in the past year.
Yet, the broad frontline has seen little change in recent months. Now, both teams are preparing for predicted spring offensives.
In the interim, U.S. officials have grown increasingly concerned that China may soon give military support to Russia’s war machine.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday morning, “We are quite concerned that China is considering offering lethal support to Russia in its actions against Ukraine.”
Putin is scheduled to deliver a major address on Tuesday. With indications that Russia has already began its spring attack, he is anticipated to launch a renewed military campaign.
Tatiana Stanovaya, a Russian expert, stated that she anticipated last-minute changes to increase its effectiveness.
‘Of course, the Kremlin will view this as further evidence that the United States has bet on Russia’s strategic defeat in the war and that the war itself has irreversibly become a conflict between Russia and the West,’ she told Reuters.
There has been mounting speculation for weeks that Biden’s trip to Poland may include a stop in Ukraine. Nonetheless, the White House stated numerous times that there were no preparations to breach the border.
Residents in Kyiv felt something was off. Monday morning, however, roadways in the city center were closed, indicating a VIP visit.
Even for a war-torn capital, security was exceptionally tight, but nobody knew who it was until Biden was discovered on a walkabout.
The president was criticized for not visiting quickly enough. His wife even beat him to it.
Jill Biden crossed the border last Mother’s Day to meet with Olena Zelenska, the first lady of Ukraine.
Also, top congressional leaders have traveled.
In May, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell led a congressional delegation.
Republican senators Susan Collins, John Cornyn, and John Barrasso joined him.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made the trip two weeks earlier.
The same may be said for Biden’s Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.
In December, prior to the Republican capture of the House of Representatives, Zelensky visited Washington.
He met with Vice President Joe Biden at the White House before addressing a joint session of Congress in an effort to bolster financial support for the conflict, as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy had signaled that his Republican majority may not be as eager to spend tax dollars on Ukraine’s war effort.
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