Biden visits Ukraine for first time since Russian invasion
U.S. President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Ukraine on Monday, his first since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly a year ago.
During his brief, hours-long visit, Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and pledged that the U.S. would supply Ukraine with another half-billion dollars’ worth of new military equipment – including artillery ammunition, more javelins and Howitzers – to assist the war-torn nation in its fight against Russian troops.
Biden also said the U.S. would be imposing new sanctions on Russia later this week.
The U.S. president’s visit came just one day before the one-year anniversary since the beginning of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Biden made a special point of saying that the visit was about marking U.S. and Western solidarity with Ukraine at this critical time, which he said was about “freedom of democracy at large.”
“I thought it was critical that there not be any doubt, none whatsoever, about U.S. support for Ukraine in the war,” Biden said. “The Ukrainian people have stepped up in a way that few people ever have in the past. For all the disagreement we have in our Congress on some issues, there is significant agreement on support for Ukraine. It’s not just about freedom in Ukraine. … It’s about freedom of democracy at large.”
Biden also said Putin had been “wrong” to assume he could divide the West on the issue of Ukraine.
“One year later, Kyiv stands. And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands,” Biden said. “Putin thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. He thought he could outlast us. I don’t think he’s thinking that right now. He’s just been plain wrong. One year later, the evidence is right here in this room. We stand here together.”
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
