US President Joe Biden is in Kyiv to mark the anniversary of the Ukraine war. This is Biden’s first visit since the Russian invasion.
– I am in Kyiv today to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, and to confirm our support and commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty and territorial integrity, it says in a press release from the White House on Monday.
In the press release, the president promises a new military package for Ukraine:
– I will announce a new delivery of critical equipment, including artillery ammunition, anti-tank systems and air radars to protect the Ukrainian people.
During a press conference on Monday morning with President Biden and Zelenskyj together, Zelenskyj says that this is the most important visit from the US to Ukraine ever.
– I want to express my gratitude to Biden. The results of this visit will be seen on the battlefield, says President Volodymyr Zelenskyj during the press conference.
During the press conference, Biden tells about the start of the war, and about the special phone call he received from Zelenskyj:
– It was a late evening in Washington almost a year ago. Russian planes were in the air, and tanks were moving in. You said you heard explosions in the background. I will never forget that, says Biden.
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Zelenskyj and Joe Biden discussed, among other things, long-range weapons during a meeting on Monday, Reuters reports.
Zelenskyj calls Biden’s visit an “extremely important signal” to all Ukrainians.
– The United States will stand with Kyiv as long as necessary, says Biden according to Reuters.
– When Putin announced the invasion a year ago, he believed that Ukraine was weak and that the West was divided. He was wrong, writes Joe Biden in an official statement.
Going to Poland
According to the official calendar, Biden was supposed to visit Poland. Instead, he made a surprise appearance in Ukraine on Monday morning.
However, the American president confirms that he will continue to Poland after his visit to Kyiv.
On Monday morning, the flight alert went off in large parts of Ukraine, including Kyiv.
According to Reuters, officials in Kyiv have warned of an increased risk of attack from Russia as the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine approaches.
The anniversary is February 24.
The case is updated.
