The Grand Gestures
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US President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to the Ukrainian capital on Monday, a trip aimed at assuring allies and also Kyiv about the United States’ continued support for Ukraine as the anniversary of Russia’s invasion approaches, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who called the visit “a historic moment” for Ukraine.
The US president is one of the few Western leaders to visit Ukraine since the invasion began on Feb. 24, 2022. It is also the first visit to Ukraine by a sitting US president since one by former President George W. Bush in 2008.
In joint statements, Biden pledged “unwavering support” for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial independence. He also announced half a billion dollars of additional assistance to Ukraine that will include military equipment, such as artillery ammunition and howitzers.
Meanwhile, US officials said the president is also scheduled to meet with a number of Eastern European and NATO leaders to push for more support for Ukraine.
The surprise trip comes at a pivotal moment in the war as Western allies and Ukrainian officials are preparing for a predicted spring offensive by Russia to coincide with the Feb. 24 anniversary of Moscow’s invasion.
Zelenskyy has been campaigning for more weapons and military equipment to counter Russian attacks, including jet fighters. Those calls have increased in recent days after Russia launched missile strikes last week that struck critical infrastructure in Ukraine.
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