US President Joe Biden has made a surprise visit to Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, despite his aides claiming up to yesterday that it would be too dangerous.
Biden arrived in Kyiv by train, in an unexpected trip during an official visit to neighboring Poland. The visit, The New York Times reported, was kept secret over security concerns.
Many on Biden’s own team reportedly did not want him to make the trip over fears for his safety.
Politico reported on Sunday that a trip to Ukraine had been “all but ruled out” after aides looked into the feasibility, because most felt that the risk to his safety meant it wouldn’t be worth it.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Biden that his visit was “an extremely important sign of support for all Ukrainians,” according to the news wire.
Biden used the trip to reaffirm US commitment to Ukraine as it approaches the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
He said in a statement that he was meeting with Zelenskyy and his team “for an extended discussion on our support for Ukraine.” He added that he 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.”
