Berlin/Kyiv
US President Biden visits the Ukrainian capital. Pictures show him together with President Selenskyj. The visit was secret.
US President Joe Biden has arrived in Ukraine for a visit. Ahead of a planned trip to Poland, the Democrat came to the capital Kiev on Monday – his first visit to the country since the Russian war of aggression began almost exactly a year ago. The visit was not announced for security reasons.
Biden’s two-day visit to Poland was expected for Tuesday. On Sunday evening, the White House published a schedule according to which Biden was still in Washington. But the President was already on his way to Europe.
Monday morning he came US President with his delegation in the capital Kiev. He also met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Both commemorated the fallen Ukrainians together. During the stay there was an air raid alarm.
Biden’s visit to Kiev: High security requirements must be met
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022 and has been waging a brutal war against the neighboring country ever since. There has been speculation in recent weeks that biden could combine his trip to Poland with a visit to Ukraine. The White House has repeatedly stated that this is not planned. However, high-level trips to crisis areas are usually kept secret until the last moment.
Numerous heads of state and government as well as ministers from other countries had the Ukraine already visited in the past months since the beginning of the war – some even several times. Several members of the government were also there from the USA, as was Biden’s wife Jill. Biden has never been to Ukraine as President. It generally has significantly higher security requirements.
Ukraine War: Visit just before first anniversary
The fact that he was planning his visit just before the first anniversary of the outbreak of war has great symbolic value – as a sign of the support of the most important and most powerful ally. In the past few months, the Americans had launched various packages of weapons and ammunition worth billions in rapid succession. According to the Pentagon, the USA provided or pledged nearly $30 billion in military aid to Ukraine since the start of the war. This also includes various heavy weapon systems.
Biden and his administration have the Ukraine promised to support her in the long term – as long as it was necessary. The US government headquarters also issued this as the core message for Biden’s visit to Poland. Now he delivered them personally in Kiev.
Biden in Poland: Talks with the NATO member are to follow
Schedules on Tuesday and Wednesday biden Talks in the Polish capital of Warsaw. According to the White House, a meeting with Poland’s President Andrzej Duda and a speech in front of the Royal Castle in Warsaw are planned. On Wednesday, Biden also wants to meet with representatives of other Eastern European NATO countries.
The US President last visited Poland at the end of March 2022, around a month after the outbreak of war in Ukraine. Even then, Biden had given a well-received speech in front of the Royal Castle in Warsaw. In it he assured Ukraine of support and sharply attacked Russian President Vladimir Putin. (fmg / dpa)
Ukraine war – background and explanations for the conflict
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