President Biden Pays Kiyv an Unexpected Visit
The World was surprised today when US President Joe Biden vsited Kyiv, Ukraine for the first time since the war began almost a year ago. The event was a well-planned, operation executed within hours. But besides the obvious media effect, the tour of President Biden was something more. It was a sign of Western solitary and unity in the midst of the first anniversary of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine.
Several hours before Biden’s visit the sky over Poland was visited by two US Air Force AWACS E-3B Sentry jets and a single Boeing RC-135W ‘Rivet Joint’ SIGINT aircraft. The routine sweep of air traffic could be easily interpreted as preparations for the announced visit of POTUS to Poland that was announced to take place between 21-22 February. Air Force One, however, left St. Andrews base much earlier under the cover of night and landed in the early hours of 20 February at Rzeszow-Jesionka Airport. From there POTUS reached Przemysl and took a special direct train to Kyiv.
On the morning 20 February Kiyv was surprisingly quiet. Public transportation was partially halted in the city center and public spaces cleared. Finally, around 12:00PM local time first footage of President Joe Biden leaving the St. Michael’s Monastery along with President Volodymyr Zelensky was published on social media. The appearance of the US head of state was a surprise to many online observers and correspondents specialising in the Ukraine conflict.
Zelensky and Biden commemorated Ukrainian soldiers killed during the conflict, since operations in Donbas in 2014, at St. Michael’s Monastery and proceeded with a short tour around the city.
The leaders held a joint press conference where strong words were shared by Biden condemning Russian aggression and emphasising Western solidarity with Ukraine. Biden said:
“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 visit also heralded promises of new equipment deliveries totaling $500 million. The US will provide more artillery equipment alongside HIMARS munitions and new sanctions will also be imposed on individuals and businesses still operating in Russia, supporting its invasion of Ukraine. Biden also announced other ‘critical equipment’ including anti-armor systems and air surveillance radar.
The visit of POTUS in Ukraine signals the West’s continued support for Kyiv. With the official White House statement noting that “over the last year, the United States has built a coalition of nations from the Atlantic to the Pacific to help defend Ukraine with unprecedented military, economic, and humanitarian support – and that support will endure.”