Joe Biden Makes Surprise Visit to Kyiv to Meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Show Solidarity With Ukrainians As Russia-Ukraine War Nears One Year (Watch Video)

Kyiv, February 20: President Joe Biden made an unannounced visit Monday to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a gesture of solidarity that comes days before the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of the country. Biden delivered remarks and met with Zelenskyy at Mariinsky Palace to announce an additional half-billion dollars in U.S. assistance and to reassure Ukraine of American and allied support as the conflict continues.

The U.S. leader recalled the fears nearly a year ago that Russia's invasion forces might quickly take the Ukrainian capital. “One year later, Kyiv stands,” Biden said, jamming his finger for emphasis on his stand decorated with the U.S. and Ukrainian flags. “Ukraine stands. Democracy stands. The Americans stand with you and the world stands with you.”

The Ukraine visit comes at a crucial moment in the war as Biden looks to keep allies unified in their support for Ukraine as the war is expected to intensify with both sides preparing for spring offensives. Zelenskyy is pressing allies to speed up delivery of pledged weapon systems and is calling on the West to deliver fighter jets to Ukraine — something that Biden to date has declined to do.

Zelenskyy said he and Biden spoke about “long range weapons and the weapons that may still be supplied to Ukraine even though it wasn't supplied before.” But he did not detail any new commitments.

Biden's mission with his visit to Kyiv — and then Warsaw — is to underscore that the United States is prepared to stick with Ukraine “as long as it takes” to repel Russian forces even as public opinion polling suggests that U.S. and allied support for providing weaponry and direct economic assistance has started to soften.

Russia-Ukraine War: US President Joe Biden Visits Volodymyr Zelensky, Says Putin ‘Dead Wrong’.

For Zelenskyy, the symbolism of having the U.S. president stand side by side with him on Ukrainian land as the anniversary nears is no small thing as he prods the U.S. and European allies to provide more advanced weaponry and to step up the pace of delivery. British Intelligence: Pressure Mounting on Russian Forces Nearing Anniversary.

“I thought it was critical that there not be any doubt, none whatsoever, about U.S. support for Ukraine in the war,” Biden said. The visit also gives Biden an opportunity to get a firsthand look at the devastation the Russian invasion has caused on Ukraine.

Video of US President Joe Biden Addressing Media in Kyiv