Joe Biden makes surprise visit to Kyiv in US President's first Ukraine visit since invasion
Biden was spotted walking with Zelensky through the centre of Kyiv
Image: Reuters
US President Joe Biden has made a surprise visit to Kyiv in Ukraine ahead of the one year anniversary of Russia's invasion.
It is the first time the President has visited the war-torn country since bombs started landing in the capital on February 24, 2022.
Biden has pledged to support Ukraine for “as long as it takes” in order to defeat Vladimir Putin.
The US president’s meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky represents a symbolic gesture, as it takes place in the Ukrainian capital in the middle of a full-scale conflict.
Biden meet Zelensky on the day Ukraine commemorates the deaths of 107 people during anti-government protests nine years ago.
Air raid sirens blared across the Ukrainian capital during the visit but there were no reports of Russian missile or air strikes.
In a post to Twitter, Zelensky marked the visit of the US president by heralding its significance.
Alongside a photo of him shaking the hand of Biden, he said: "Joseph Biden, welcome to Kyiv! Your visit is an extremely important sign of support for all Ukrainians."
Biden stopped in Ukraine as he prepares to visit Poland for a three-day trip.
Joe Biden meets Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky
Image: Zelensky official / Telegram
In a statement, the US president pledged to commit further "critical equipment" in a bid to enhance Ukraine's war efforts.
He 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 Zelenskyy 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.
"Today, in Kyiv, I am meeting with President Zelensky and his team for an extended discussion on our support for Ukraine.
"I will announce another delivery of critical equipment, including artillery ammunition, anti-armor systems, and air surveillance radars to help protect the Ukrainian people from aerial bombardments.
Biden added that companies trying to "backfill" Russian efforts will be met with sanctions.
The White House statement said: "I will share that later this week, we will announce additional sanctions against elites and companies that are trying to evade or backfill Russia’s war machine."
Ukraine is becoming accustomed to visits from political figures, after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer opted to visit the country last week.
Keir Starmer paid a visit to Ukraine last week
VALENTYN OGIRENKO
During his visit, Starmer spoke to reporters in Irpin, a Kyiv suburb where heavy fighting took place in the first months of Moscow’s invasion — a bloody conflict which is only days away from its first anniversary.
With Labour well in front of Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives in most national opinion polls, Starmer could be walking through the black door of 10 Downing Street as Britain’s new leader after the next general election.
He stressed that his party was committed to Zelensky and Kyiv’s cause.
“Should there be an election next year and a change of government, the position on Ukraine will remain the same,” he vowed.
“It’s very important for me to be here in Ukraine with the people of Ukraine, making it clear that support for Ukraine in the United Kingdom is united.
“Throughout the conflict, the Labour party has stood united with the Government in the United Kingdom to show our support for Ukraine.”