President Biden Visits Kyiv to Show Support for Ukraine and Reiterate US Opposition to Russian Aggression

US President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv, Ukraine on Monday, February 20th, ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s war against Ukraine. This marks Biden’s first visit to the country since Russia’s invasion on February 24th, 2022.

The President was welcomed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the two leaders held a meeting to discuss the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Following the meeting, Biden praised Zelenskyy and said Ukraine has a “captured a special place in his heart.”

Biden also addressed the situation in Ukraine, saying that when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion nearly one year ago, he thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. The President added that the US stands with Ukraine and will continue to support it in its fight against Russian aggression.

The President is scheduled to visit Warsaw on Tuesday, where he will meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda. The White House said Sunday that the two leaders will discuss the importance of the US-Poland alliance and the need for a strong transatlantic partnership.

The visit to Kyiv is part of Biden’s planned two-day visit to Poland. The President’s trip to Ukraine is seen as a show of support for the country and a reminder to Russia that the US will not tolerate any further aggression.