On the same day that the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will visit Kiev, the president of the United States has arrived in the Ukrainian capital Joe Biden for a surprise visit a few days before the first anniversary of the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022.
Biden visited the city center, which was closed off for the occasion, together with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. As reported by the Guardian, the US president had been offered to meet his Ukrainian counterpart at the Polish-Ukrainian border or in the western city of Lviv, but Biden would have insisted on visiting the Ukrainian capital, a symbol of resistance to the Russian invasion. The White House number one departed Joint Base Andrews near Washington shortly after 4 a.m. Sunday, stopping at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany before heading to Ukraine by train from the Polish border. The visit had been kept secret until the last moment for security reasons, not surprisingly, “Sunday evening the White House issued a public schedule for Monday showing the president still in Washington and departing in the evening for Warsaw, when in fact was already on the other side of the world”, writes the New York Times. Immediately after the visit to the capital, the two presidents held a joint press conference.
Biden: “Putin thought Ukraine was weak. He was wrong"
“Putin launched his invasion almost a year ago, he thought Ukraine was weak and that the West was divided. He thought he could get the better of us. But he was very wrong“, Biden said in a statement released by the White House, reported by the Guardian.
"Russia wanted to wipe Ukraine off the map but it is failing, the Russian army is losing the territories it once occupied, soldiers are running away not only from the army but from Russia itself. We stayed united, NATO stayed togetherPutin didn't divide us, he thought he could defeat us but I think he doesn't think so anymore. Only God knows what he's thinking,” Biden added at a press conference.
“As the world prepares to mark the first anniversary of Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine – Biden said – today I am in Kiev to meet with President Zelensky and reaffirm our firm and tireless commitment to democracy, sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine”. "A year later, Kiev and Ukraine stand. Democracy resists“, added the number one of the White House.
“Over the past year, the United States has built a coalition of nations from the Atlantic to the Pacific to help Ukraine defend itself with unprecedented military, economic and humanitarian support, and that support will last“, Biden said adding that “As allies and partners we will continue to support your cause, we are always ready to talk to you about what you need, we are on your side, and I am here to support not only the institutions but also the ordinary citizens. You have proved to be heroic and all the world saw him.”
Biden: "From the US 500 million dollars of aid to Ukraine"
During his visit, Biden reportedly announced the sending of $500 million in additional aid to Ukraine. Cnn reports it. Biden, in joint remarks with Ukrainian President Zelensky, said the package would include more military equipment, including artillery ammunition, more javelins and howitzers. Zelensky said he and Biden talked about "long-range weapons and the weapons that could still be supplied to Ukraine even if they hadn't been supplied before."
Zelensky: 'Russia has no chance of winning'
"This visit brings us one step closer to victoryZelensky said. "It is the most important visit in the entire history of relations between Ukraine and the United States," he added. “Biden and partners must continue to do everything possible to help Ukraine win, Biden and the US have remained in constant contact this year and this is an extremely important visit in such a difficult period for Ukraine fighting for the freedom of the world” Zelensky continued.
"Today our negotiations were very fruitful and important" she said in a joint press conference with the president of the United States "We hope that this year 2023 will become a year of victory", she added, praising the "common vision" shared by both the nations.
Not only: "Russia must take responsibility for its aggression and repay the damages caused” and “we believe that there is no alternative to the creation of a special court. I think everyone should support this position,” the Ukrainian president said.
“This week we will see the anniversary of the fight against the Russian aggressor” and “it is very symbolic that this visit” by Biden to Kiev “arrives this week. The results of my December visit "to Washington" and today will be reflected on the battlefield," Zelensky said, thanking the US president for his support. “I know that there will be a very important package of support for Ukraine and it will serve as a clear signal that Russia's attempt will have no result, and we will be able to defend our cities with a win. Russia “has no chance of winning the war” against Ukraine”. concluded the Ukrainian leader.
