- U.S. president makes unannounced trip to Kyiv
- Biden promises more military aid for Ukraine
- Aid includes artillery ammunition, anti-armour systems
KYIV, Feb 20 (Reuters) – Ukraine’s foreign minister said U.S. President Joe Biden’s trip to Kyiv on Monday clearly signalled to Russia that “no one is afraid of you”, and praised the visit as the “victory of the Ukrainian people and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy”.
In a statement, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the visit was “historic” and that both Biden and Zelenskiy were pleased with their talks on Monday.
“This visit is the victory of the Ukrainian people and president Zelenskiy. It has been conducted in spite of everything for the sake of Ukraine’s victory and all the free world. It is a clear signal to the swamp – no one is afraid of you!” he said.
Biden pledges new military aid for Ukraine during Kyiv visit
Biden promised new military aid for Ukraine worth $500 million during a surprise visit to Kyiv on Monday, almost a year to the day since Russia’s invasion.
Biden also said additional sanctions would be announced this week against the Russian elite and companies trying to evade sanctions to “back the Russian war machine”.
The military aid package will include artillery ammunition, anti-armour systems, and air surveillance radars “to help protect the Ukrainian people from aerial bombardments,” he said.
“The cost that Ukraine has had to pay is extraordinarily high. Sacrifices have been far too great,” Biden told reporters in Kyiv, where he held talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Biden appeared to make no mention of fighter jets, which Ukraine has been seeking from Western allies to help it push back Russian forces.
Air raid sirens blared as Biden, 80, walked with Zelenskiy through central Kyiv but there were no reports of Russian missile or air strikes.
Visiting Kyiv for the first time since the start of Russia’s war on Ukraine, Biden said Washington would stand with Ukraine as long as it takes.
Biden said his trip was intended to “reaffirm our unwavering and unflagging commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.”
The United States has been by far the largest supplier of military assistance to help Ukraine repel better-equipped Russian invaders.
“This visit of the U.S. president to Ukraine, the first for fifteen years, is the most important visit in the entire history of Ukraine-US relations,” Zelenskiy said.
Zelenskiy’s chief of staff posted photographs of Biden in sun glasses walking side-by-side with Zelenskiy, who was wearing his trademark military-style clothing.
Kyiv is preparing for a possible major new Russian offensive that some military analysts say is already under way in the east.
In a speech, Biden commended Ukraine’s courage during the war, adding: “I knew I would be back.”.
The air raid sirens wailed while Zelenskiy and Biden were inside the St Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral on a square in central Kyiv where burnt-out Russian tanks have been placed.
Biden’s trip fell on the day that Ukraine marks the deaths of more than 100 people – now known as the Heavenly Hundred – at anti-government protests that eventually toppled a Moscow-backed president in 2014.
Several main roads in central Kyiv were closed off to traffic on Monday morning. Drivers stood waiting in traffic as gathering crowds of pedestrians peered over barricades to get a glimpse of who had come to the capital.
Following are comments and reaction from U.S. President Joe Biden’s surprise visit to Ukraine.
U.S. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN
“As the world prepares to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, I am in Kyiv today to meet with President Zelenskiy and reaffirm our unwavering and unflagging commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
“When (Russian President Vladimir) 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.
“I 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.
“Later this week, we will announce additional sanctions against elites and companies that are trying to evade or backfill Russia’s war machine.
“The cost that Ukraine has had to pay is extraordinarily high. Sacrifices have been far too great. We know that there will be difficult days and weeks and years ahead.”
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY
Biden’s visit is “an extremely important sign of support for all Ukrainians.”
RUSSIAN ANALYST TATIANA STANOVAYA
“Of course for the Kremlin this will be seen as further proof that the United States has bet on Russia’s strategic defeat in the war and that the war itself has turned irrevocably into a war between Russia and the West.
“Tomorrow’s address (by Putin) was expected to be very hawkish, targeted at a demonstrative rupture of relations with the West. Now additional edits could be introduced to make it even tougher.”
GERMAN GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON STEFFEN HEBESTREIT
Biden visit is a “good signal”.
