(USNewsMag.com) – President Biden visited Ukraine Feb. 20, the first time he has been to the country since Russia invaded Ukraine in spring 2022. Air raid sirens were heard in Kyiv while Biden spoke with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The secret trip to Ukraine was the first time Biden has visited an active war zone. Until now, officials at the White House had ruled out the president visiting Ukraine. Zelensky invited Biden to visit the country back in December when he traveled to the U.S., meeting Biden at the White House. Zelensky felt it was important Biden witness the conflict up close to understand why he was asking for more aid for Ukraine.
While in Kyiv, Biden pledged $500,000 million in new assistance to Ukraine. The newest aid package includes funding for more military equipment. The U.S. will also impose new sanctions on Russia this week. Biden has stated that there is bipartisan support to continue sending aid to Ukraine in its fight against Russia. The U.S. is hoping the additional aid will be beneficial to Ukraine in winning the war with Russia. Biden also wanted to convey a message by traveling to Ukraine the U.S. support was not ending.
The timing of the visit and speech came a day before Russian President Vladimir Putin made his own speech marking the one year anniversary of the conflict.
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Emmanuel Macron , the French President, Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have all previously visited Ukraine. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin have also been to Ukraine in the past year while the war has been going on. Dr. Jill Biden visited Ukraine last year on Mother’s Day.
Biden headed to Poland Feb. 21, meeting for two days with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw.
Copyright 2023, USNewsMag.com
