US President Joe Biden left Ukraine after meeting Volodymyr Zelensky this morning on a surprise visit to Kiev.
Sky News reports it.
"
Kiev captured my heart, I knew I'd be back
."
Biden tweeted this by posting a photo of his message in the guest book of the Ukrainian presidential palace after meeting with President Zelensky.
"
Biden's visit to Kiev is historic
".
This was stated by the US national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, in a virtual briefing from Kiev with a small group of journalists.
"The American president didn't just want to say but show the world that he is at Zelensky's side in a free Kiev," he stressed.
Joe Biden had a "
long talk
" with the Ukrainian president in Kiev during which they discussed the "coming months of war" and what Ukraine needs to defend itself against Russian aggression, as well as the process towards a "just and lasting peace".
This was stated by the US national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, in a virtual briefing from Kiev with a group of journalists.
Russia
was "warned in advance"
of Biden's visit to Kiev.
This was stated by the American National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, in a briefing from Kiev with a small group of journalists, underlining that he "cannot reveal Moscow's response" for security reasons.
Zelensky: 'Putin has no chance of winning the war'
"Biden, having previously received security guarantees, finally went to Kiev. He pledged many weapons and swore allegiance to the neo-Nazi regime to the grave."
The deputy chairman of the Russian security council
Dmitri Medvedev
writes on Telegram referring to the fact that the US had warned Moscow of the US president's visit.
Ukraine, in the streets and squares of Kiev one year after the outbreak of war
Surprise visit
- US President
Joe Biden
arrived in Kiev on a surprise visit ahead of the anniversary of the invasion.
Images spread on social media show the US president together with the Ukrainian president
Volodymyr Zelensky
in the center of the Ukrainian capital, near the cathedral of San Michele.
"You and all Ukrainians, Mr. President, remind the world of the meaning of the word courage."
President Biden said in Kiev.
"We will be with you as long as it takes," he added.
"Putin launched his invasion almost a year ago, he thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. He thought he could get the better of us. But he was very wrong."
So Biden in a statement released by the White House, reported by the Guardian.
"As the world prepares to mark the first anniversary of Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine, I am in Kiev today to meet with President Zelensky and reaffirm our firm and tireless commitment to democracy, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine".
"Today our negotiations were very fruitful and important," Zelensky said in a joint press conference with the US president visiting Kiev.
"We hope this year 2023 will become a year of victory," he added, lauding the "common vision" shared by both nations.
Biden announced
half a billion dollars in additional assistance to Ukraine
during his visit.
Cnn reports it.
Biden, in joint remarks with Ukrainian President Zelensky, said the package would include more military equipment, including artillery ammunition, more javelins and howitzers.
Zelensky said he and Biden had talked about "long-range weapons and the weapons that could still be supplied to Ukraine even if they hadn't been supplied before."
"A year later, Kiev and Ukraine are standing. Democracy resists": Biden said as he met Zelensky at the presidential palace in Kiev.
Zelensky reports that he has discussed long-range weapons and new military aid with the US president.
International media report it.
"President Biden, welcome to Kiev, his visit is an extremely important signal for all Ukrainians."
Ukrainian President Zelensky wrote it on Telegram by posting a photo with Joe Biden.
“Over the past year, the United States has built a coalition of nations from the Atlantic to the Pacific to help Ukraine defend itself with unprecedented military, economic and humanitarian support, and that support will endure,” Biden said adding that “ As allies and partners we will continue to support your cause, we are always ready to talk to you about what you need, we are on your side, and I am here to support not only the institutions but also the ordinary citizens.You have shown that you are heroic and all the world saw it".
ANSA agency
Olena Zelenska also welcomed Biden - World
First lady Olena Zelenska also welcomed US President Joe Biden on his surprise visit to Kiev.
(HANDLE)
"This visit brings us one step closer to victory," President Zelensky said at a
joint press conference
with the US president visiting Kiev, according to the Ukrainian translation of Zelensky's speech.
"It is the most important visit in the entire history of relations between Ukraine and the United States".
"Biden and partners must continue to do everything possible to help Ukraine win, Biden and the US have remained in constant contact this year and this is an extremely important visit in such a difficult period for Ukraine fighting for the freedom of the world," Zelensky added.
"A year ago we talked on the phone Mr. president… you told me you could hear the explosions in the background. I will never forget it. And I asked: what can I do? And you said to me: bring together leaders to support Ukraine, ask them to support ukraine".
Joer Biden
in Kiev recalls the phone call with Zelensky a year ago.
"One year later, Kiev stands, Ukraine stands, and the world stands with you," Biden said at the joint news conference.
"We have built an alliance all over the world, about 50 countries have helped Ukraine to defend itself, we have united the democracies of the world", underlined the American president.
Zelensky then said that "
Russia has no chance of winning the war
".
And Biden added that "Russia wanted to wipe Ukraine off the map but it is failing, the Russian army is losing the territories it once occupied, soldiers are fleeing not only from the army but from Russia itself. We stood united, NATO stayed together, Putin didn't divide us, he thought he could defeat us but I think he doesn't think so anymore... only God knows what he's thinking".
"Russia must take responsibility for its aggression and repay the damages caused" and "we believe that there is no alternative to the creation of a special court. I believe that everyone must support this position" said the Ukrainian president.
ANSA agency
Biden, New Sanctions Against Russia This Week - World
President Joe Biden said the United States would announce more sanctions against Russia this week.
(HANDLE)
"This week we will see the anniversary of the fight against the Russian aggressor" and "it is very symbolic that this visit" by Biden to Kiev "arrives this week. The results of my December visit" to Washington "and today will be reflected on the battlefield".
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this at a press conference with Joe Biden, thanking the American president for his support.
"I know that there will be a very important package of support for Ukraine and it will serve as a clear signal that Russia's attempt will have no result, and we will manage to defend our cities with a victory," the Ukrainian leader added.
An embrace between Joe Biden and Vlodymyr Zelensky in the center of Kiev
: it is one of the images circulating now of today's historic meeting between the two presidents in the Ukrainian capital.
The US president
arrived in Ukraine by train from the border with Poland
, as reported by the New York Times.
The visit to Kiev remained secret until the last minute for security reasons: Biden left Washington without warning after he and his wife Jill dined out at a restaurant on Saturday night.
Officials had denied that Biden would visit Ukraine during his planned trip to Eastern Europe.
"Indeed, the White House released a public schedule for Monday Sunday evening showing the president still in Washington and leaving for Warsaw that evening, when in fact he was already on the other side of the world," writes the NYT.
The secrecy surrounding the US president's trip to Ukraine reflects heightened security concerns about a visit to an active war zone, CNN reports.
Air Force One departed Joint Base Andrews under cover of darkness at 4:15am Sunday local time.
Journalists on board the aircraft were not allowed to bring their own devices with them.
Biden's public schedule did not disclose the trip, and White House officials repeatedly ruled out a visit to Ukraine last week saying it was not planned.
Ukraine is also in a war zone over which the US military has no control, making Monday's visit different from previous presidential trips to Iraq or Afghanistan.
Biden travels with a relatively small entourage, including National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Deputy Chief of Staff Jen O'Malley Dillon, and Personal Aide Annie Tomasini.
President Zelensky first invited Biden to visit Kiev a year ago as Russian forces were massing at the border.
As recently as last week, Zelensky said his invitation for Biden to visit Ukraine remained open, even though he acknowledged there were other means to talk.
Biden has visited Ukraine six times as vice president.
His last visit to Kiev was in January 2017, just days before leaving office.
Malley Dillon and personal aide Annie Tomasini.
President Zelensky first invited Biden to visit Kiev a year ago as Russian forces were massing at the border.
As recently as last week, Zelensky said his invitation for Biden to visit Ukraine remained open, even though he acknowledged there were other means to talk.
Biden has visited Ukraine six times as vice president.
His last visit to Kiev was in January 2017, just days before leaving office.
Malley Dillon and personal aide Annie Tomasini.
President Zelensky first invited Biden to visit Kiev a year ago as Russian forces were massing at the border.
As recently as last week, Zelensky said his invitation for Biden to visit Ukraine remained open, even though he acknowledged there were other means to talk.
Biden has visited Ukraine six times as vice president.
His last visit to Kiev was in January 2017, just days before leaving office.
Ukraine remained open, even though it acknowledged that there were other means to speak.
Biden has visited Ukraine six times as vice president.
His last visit to Kiev was in January 2017, just days before leaving office.
Ukraine remained open, even though it acknowledged that there were other means to speak.
Biden has visited Ukraine six times as vice president.
His last visit to Kiev was in January 2017, just days before leaving office.
Biden and Zelensky together visited a sort of memorial in honor of the fallen with dozens and dozens of photos running along a wall near the central Mykhailivska square in central Kiev.
They are photos of soldiers who have fallen in battle since 2014.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova posted a photo on her Telegram channel showing US President Joe Biden (Catholic) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Jew) as they leave the Orthodox cathedral of St. Michael.
"Which of the two is Orthodox?" is the ironic comment accompanying the image.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
is expected in the afternoon in Warsaw where she will meet the Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki.
The head of the Italian government should soon also travel to Kiev, as announced yesterday by the Ukrainian president, for a meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky.
