US President Biden visits Kyiv, announces $500m in military aid

The unannounced journey is a robust present of help for Ukraine, simply days forward of the primary anniversary of the battle.

United States President Joe Biden has made an unannounced go to to Kyiv, days earlier than the primary anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Biden’s journey on Monday was the primary to Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops into the neighbouring nation on February 24, 2022.

Air raid sirens rang out as he met Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy within the Ukrainian capital, however there have been no main strikes.

The go to was to “reaffirm our unwavering and unflagging dedication to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity”, in response to a White Home assertion.

“When Putin launched his invasion almost one yr in the past, he thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. He thought he might outlast us. However he was useless unsuitable,” the assertion quoted Biden as saying.

As we strategy the anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, I am in Kyiv at present to fulfill with President Zelenskyy and reaffirm our unwavering dedication to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

— President Biden (@POTUS) February 20, 2023

“Later this week, we'll announce extra sanctions towards elites and firms which are making an attempt to evade or backfill Russia’s battle machine,” the assertion added.

Biden mentioned the US would offer Ukraine with extra help price $500m that can embrace artillery ammunition, anti-armour methods and air surveillance radars. He additionally promised additional sanctions towards Russia.

‘Essential signal’

Zelenskyy, who in December 2022 Zelenskyy travelled to Washington, DC and addressed the US Congress, in his first journey overseas for the reason that battle started, wrote on Telegram that Biden’s go to was an “extraordinarily essential signal of help for all Ukrainians”.

The Ukraine chief mentioned he and Biden spoke about “lengthy vary weapons and the weapons which will nonetheless be provided to Ukraine although it wasn’t provided earlier than”, however didn't element any new commitments.

Al Jazeera’s Hoda Abdel Hamid, reporting from Kyiv, mentioned the US president’s journey will probably be “very effectively obtained” by Ukrainians.

“President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to offer a speech tomorrow.

“Individuals listed below are speaking a few new offensive … a brand new buildup on the border in Russia, Belarus. So, definitely having the [US] president right here pledging help, pledging weapons will make the Ukrainians really feel that they will go forward with this.”

The go to provides Biden a chance to get a firsthand have a look at the devastation the Russian invasion has precipitated on Ukraine.

1000's of Ukrainian troops and civilians have been killed up to now yr whereas hundreds of thousands have fled the combating into neighbouring nations equivalent to Poland and different elements of Europe.

In the meantime, Sergei Markov, a Russian political scientist and former spokesman of President Vladimir Putin, claimed that Moscow had assured Biden’s security throughout the journey.

“Joe Biden got here to Kyiv solely with private assure for safety from Vladimir Putin, that there will probably be no rocket and aviation strikes … throughout the go to.”

Al Jazeera was unable to confirm his declare.

Markov added the timing of the journey was vital, because it comes earlier than Putin’s state of the nation handle on Tuesday and forward of the primary anniversary of the invasion on Friday.

However he argued that Biden had loads to realize from the go to, when it comes to home politics.

“Leaders contained in the [US] Democratic Celebration imagine he’s not bodily and mentally ready” to hold out presidential duties, Markov mentioned, including that the journey was a “huge victory” for Biden towards his political opponents.

Different Western leaders together with German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have additionally visited Kyiv up to now yr.