The president of the United States, Joe Biden, has traveled by surprise to the capital of Ukraine to meet with President Volodimir Zelenski, in a symbolic visit just four days after commemorating the start of the Russian invasion. This is the first time that the leader of the White House has traveled to Ukraine since the war broke out.
The US president was due to travel to Poland today to discuss with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki the stationing of more American troops in Poland, but some experts had already speculated that he might use the occasion to stop in Kyiv.
Biden has announced that Washington will provide Kiev with a new $500 million military aid package and has promised to release “essential equipment, including artillery ammunition, anti-armor systems, and air surveillance radars,” according to a White House statement. . Likewise, he has insisted that the US will continue to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes” even though there are no short-term prospects for peace talks to end the conflict.
The visit, which takes place in a context of risk due to the worsening of the Russian offensive in recent weeks, reinforces the Biden administration’s commitment to Ukraine, the object of criticism in recent days from Republicans claiming that the financing that is sent to Ukraine goes to the Americans.
The United States has so far been Kyiv’s great ally in repelling Moscow’s forces from Ukrainian territory, and has provided some $30 billion in weapons and security, and has been a key player in the strategy of NATO allies. , which have been increasing the caliber of weapons sent to Ukraine, with the decision taken in January to deliver armored tanks.
While other world leaders have visited kyiv to meet with Zelensky over the past year, Biden had stayed away out of fear of inciting a conflict between the world’s two biggest nuclear powers. In her place, First Lady Jill Biden made a surprise visit to western Ukraine on Mother’s Day in May.
