President Biden Makes a Surprise Visit to Ukraine

VIVA – The US President, Joe Biden, made a surprise visit to Ukraine to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday. This visit was Biden’s first trip to the country since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost a year ago.

The highly secretive visit – which took place as air raid sirens could be heard ringing out around Kyiv while Biden walked alongside President Volodymyr Zelensky around the gold-domed St. Michael’s Cathedral.

During the meeting, President Biden announced new assistance, saying the aid package would include more military equipment, such as artillery ammunition, javelins, and Howitzers. He also said new sanctions would be imposed in Moscow later this week, "One year later, Kyiv stands. And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands," President. Biden said.

After that, the United States and other western nations have been rushing arms, tanks, and ammunition to Ukraine in the hopes of changing the trajectory of the war. By visiting in person, Biden is offering help for President Zelensky by seeking votes from other countries to assist Ukraine.

President Joe Biden arrived in Kyiv at 8 am local time after a lengthy, covert journey from Washington and arrived at the Mariinsky Palace half an hour later. He departed Kyiv in the early afternoon.

“Thank you for coming,” Zelensky said, shaking Biden’s hand.

The US officials have privately voiced hope the massive influx of weaponry to Ukraine which includes new vehicles, longer-range missiles, and Patriot air defense systems can help Ukraine prevail on the battlefield and put Zelensky in a stronger position to negotiate an end to the war.