UKRAINE: US President Joe Biden visited Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. This marks his first trip to the country following Russia’s attack on Ukraine on 24th February 2022.
According to Biden, US was set to provide Kyiv with a new military aid package worth $500 million that would be announced on Tuesday. As he was seen walking in the city with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said that they had discussed the long-range weapons that the exchange was “very fruitful.”
Biden stated that the Russian President believed that Ukraine was “weak and the West was divided” and that he “thought he could outlast us”.
Biden said in a statement from the White House that his visit to Kyiv would reiterate our steadfast and unwavering support for Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and that Russia will face several penalties aimed at elites and businesses who try to avoid or support Putin’s war effort.
As per The White House, Biden would make way for more sanctions on Russia and military support for Ukraine, including artillery ammunition, anti-armour systems and air surveillance radars.
President Zelenskyy mentioned that the US President’s visit to Kyiv was “an essential sign of support for all Ukrainians”. According to the White House, Kremlin was notified of Biden’s visit “some hours” before his departure.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said, “We did so to avoid conflicts a few hours before his departure. I won’t detail their reactions or the specifics of our message because those communications were sensitive.”
Sergei Markov, the former advisor to the President, said that the team in Washington would have contacted Moscow before the visit to prevent nuclear war. Markov added that this was one of the potential outcomes of killing either the US or Russian presidents.
President Joe Biden’s visit came ahead of Putin due to make a significant address as he is set to make Russia’s aims for the second year of the invasion.
Also Read: Zelenskiy Urges West for Faster Military Assistance to Avoid More Deaths in Ukraine
