President Biden lands in Kyiv for surprise visit to war-torn country

Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Monday, days before the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

His visit was shrouded in secrecy and he arrived with a stripped down traveling pool of just two reporters.

He met with President Zelensky at the Mariinsky Palace and announced half a billion dollars in extra assistance, including artillery,  ammunition, more Javelins and Howitzers, as well as more sanctions on Russia to follow.

Biden said: ‘One year later, Kyiv stands. And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands.’

The president was due to leave Washington on Monday evening for a two-day visit to Poland where he will meet Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Warsaw for discussions over a potential increase in US troops there.

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US President Joe Biden is pictured alongside Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv this morning on a walkabout during his surprise visit

Zelensky welcomed Biden to Kyiv, saying: ‘Your visit is an extremely important sign of support for all Ukrainians’

In its official guidance, the White House said he would leave at 7pm on Monday evening.

Instead he was making a secret flight to see the conflict for himself. 

Zelensky welcomed Biden to Kyiv, saying: ‘Your visit is an extremely important sign of support for all Ukrainians.’ 

He also said they spoke about new ‘long range weapons and the weapons that may still be supplied to Ukraine even though it wasn’t supplied before.’ 

But he did not detail any new commitments. 

Biden said: ‘As the world prepares to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, I am in Kyiv today to meet with President Zelensky and reaffirm our unwavering and unflagging commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

‘When Putin launched his invasion nearly one year ago, he thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. He thought he could outlast us. But he was dead wrong.’

The war has already cost hundreds of thousands of lives, driven millions from their homes and reduced a string of cities to rubble in southern and eastern Ukraine.

Aid from the U.S., allies and partners is credited with helping dogged Ukrainian resistance defend its territories. 

The U.S. alone has sent more than $100 billion of arms and aid to the country, of which The Pentagon spent $62.3 billion in the past year on weapons and ammunition as well as training, logistics, and salaries. 

Yet there has been little change on the vast frontline in recent months. Now both sides are readying for offensives expected in the spring.