Biden Makes Historic Visit to Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Joe Biden meet in Kyiv, Ukraine where President Biden announced a new delivery of critical equipment for Ukraine on the one-year anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz).

One year following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, President Biden makes a historic visit to Ukraine - a warzone where the United States doesn’t have a footprint.

Article by Georgia Simon, Associate White House Reporter

KYIV, UKRAINE - In a dramatic and historic move, President Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Monday for the first time since Russia invaded the independent country last February, once again showing support for Ukraine and pledging more aid.

As air raid sounds rang from the battle-wounded cities, an intensely secretive trip planned for POTUS was in the works. Large black motorcades could be seen by Ukrainian citizens, marking the President’s entrance to meet with top Ukrainian officials.

While visiting, President Biden announced another aid package for Ukraine involving more military-based equipment like artillery ammunition for soldiers on the battlefield. Top US officials are anticipating this will help Ukraine, with hopes of regaining back territory taken by the Russians.

Scheduling:

At 4:15 a.m. on Sunday, Air Force One - callsign SAM60 - left Joint Base Andrews on the way to Kyiv. The trip was highly secretive as reporters on the flight were forbad from having their mobile devices alongside them. Annie Tomasini, director of Oval Office operations, Jen O’Malley Dillon, deputy chief of staff and National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan were among the small group traveling alongside the President.

President Biden entered Ukraine at the local time of 8 a.m. where he went straight to Mariinsky Palace and left by early afternoon.

Upon arrival, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, greeted President Biden with a handshake while saying “Thank you for coming.”

Only on Friday did the President make the final decision to head to Ukraine before making his anticipated trip to Warsaw, Poland. Hours before leaving for Kyiv, US officials notified Russia of their planned trip.

Security:

President Biden’s security was of the utmost importance throughout his visit. There was a series of contingency plans for security-based reasons, in case something were to go unplanned.

Alongside safety precautions, Ukraine is currently an active war zone, enabling US security to have no control over the situation, causing an even greater risk to the President.

“The Friday session in the Oval Office was the culmination of months of work by a tiny handful of Biden’s top aides to plan the trip around the anniversary of the start of the war. The planning included the chief of staff’s office, the National Security Council and the White House Military Office, with input from a small number of officials at the Secret Service, the Pentagon and the Intelligence Community, according to deputy national security adviser Jon Finer,” CNN said.

The President was briefed many times throughout the planning period, on what the trip would enable.

“It’s important to him to show up, even when it’s hard, and he directed his team to make it happen no matter how challenging the logistics,” Kate Bedingfield, communications director, said. “This was a risk that Joe Biden wanted to take.”

Important Moments:

President Biden made his secret trip just one day before a high-stakes speech by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, marking one year since the full-scale invasion.

In a quote made by President Biden about Putin, he explains “One year later, the evidence is right here in this room. We stand here together.”

“Putin thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. He thought he could outlast us. I don’t think he’s thinking that right now,” President Biden, said.

While making his speech in Kyiv, President Biden brings up the divided American people, before referring back to the fact that all of Capitol Hill can agree on one thing,

“For all the disagreement we have in our Congress on some issues, there is significant agreement on support for Ukraine,” POTUS said.

“The Ukrainian people have stepped up in a way that few people ever have in the past,” the President added. “It’s not just about freedom in Ukraine. It’s about freedom of democracy at large.”

Sullivan explained that whilst in a meeting with President Zelenskyy, Biden wants to focus on the future and how he can provide help.

“So he was quite focused on how he was going to approach his conversation with President Zelenskyy and in part how the two of them were really going to look out over the course of 2023 and try to come to a common understanding of what the objectives are,” Sullivan, said.

President Biden’s unexpected trip came less than two days before his long-awaited trip to Poland where he met with Polish President, Andrzej Duda. As China looks to help Russia throughout the next war period, America stays strong to its ally, Ukraine.

“One year later, Kyiv stands. And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands,” Biden said.