KYIV — President Biden arrived in Kyiv for a surprise six-hour visit Monday, assembly with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky.
Rumors had abounded within the Ukrainian capital that somebody particular was visiting — there was an exceptionally excessive degree of safety, even in a metropolis that has repeatedly hosted high-level international dignitaries over the previous yr. Entire sectors of the town middle have been closed to visitors and cordoned off, with important numbers of Ukrainian police and safety forces seen as Biden’s motorcade sped by means of.
The visit had been stored a intently guarded secret till the final minute, with solely a choose few high-level figures on either side realizing the advance plans. On Monday morning, Ukrainian International Minister Dmytro Kuleba canceled a scheduled assembly with European international ministers in Brussels. His deputy international minister teased {that a} “surprise is being ready in Kyiv in reference to the visit of high-ranking international company.”
A type of apprised of the visit was Russian President Vladimir Putin. The White Home mentioned it had alerted the Kremlin to Biden’s journey in an effort to “deconflict” with Russia’s ongoing warfare. Although not with out threat, the US was in essence making its geopolitical adversary a fellow guarantor of Biden’s security in an energetic warfare zone, the primary time in current American historical past {that a} commander in chief had traveled to 1 absent a large U.S. navy presence.
Like everybody else, from high-ranking international dignitaries to journalists and an array of Western celebrities, Biden arrived in Kyiv by rail. His touring social gathering was reportedly uncharacteristically small, and his motorcade was lacking the well-known “beast,” the closely armored Secret Service limousine that usually accompanies the president abroad.
Air raid sirens blared within the background as Biden joined Zelensky at St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery to pay tribute to Ukrainian troopers who’ve been killed in Russia’s warfare towards Ukraine. The alarm was the results of Ukrainian radar techniques detecting a Russian MiG-31K taking off in Belarus, in response to Ukrainian authorities sources. The Russian jet can carry a Kinzhal missile, which, flying at hypersonic speeds, is just too quick to be intercepted by present Ukrainian air defenses, or to permit sufficient warning to be given for individuals to hunt shelter. It could possibly additionally goal virtually any location contained in the borders of Ukraine.
For months, the courtyard in entrance of St. Michael’s has been residence to an exhibit of burned-out Russian tanks, armored personnel carriers and superior air protection techniques. Biden subsequently stood mere toes away from Putin’s equipment of warfare, a very good chunk of which was destroyed due to American defensive weaponry he had dispatched in bulk to Ukraine.
At a joint press convention with the Ukrainian president, Biden praised Ukrainian resilience and declared his “unwavering assist” for the nation. He additionally directed his ire at Putin, saying the Russian autocrat “thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. … He thought he might outlast us. I don’t assume he’s considering that proper now. God is aware of what he’s considering, however I don’t assume he’s considering that. He’s been plain flawed.”
Russian state media scrambled to clarify Biden’s journey, claiming that Moscow had given Biden “safety ensures” to make the visit doable.
In the meantime, Russian response on social media was a mix of anger and incredulity.
“Virtually a yr after the start of the particular navy operation, we have been ready for the President of the Russian Federation to visit the Russian metropolis of Kyiv, not the President of the US,” an account closely connected to the Russian navy complained on Telegram. Former FSB officer Igor Girkin — a perennial critic of Moscow’s present conduct within the warfare — advised dryly that Biden might most likely visit the frontlines in Bakhmut and “nothing would occur to him.”
Ukrainians reacted to Biden’s visit with a mix of gratitude and attribute humor. Memes shortly unfold of Biden supposedly standing exterior one of many Ukrainian capital’s espresso outlets, having fun with an ice cream in entrance of a well-known native sizzling canine stand, and taking a journey on the Kyiv Metro.
On the political degree, Ukrainian officers have been universally effusive of their reward for Biden’s visit. Kuleba, the international minister, praised the journey as a “victory for the Ukrainian individuals,” whereas Zelensky known as it “a very powerful visit of the entire historical past of U.S.-Ukraine relations.”
Along with the nice and cozy phrases, Biden used the event to announce one other $500 million navy help bundle for the nation. The most recent tranche incorporates extra Javelin antitank guided missiles, extra artillery, extra radar techniques and extra ammunition. Not talked about have been two of Kyiv’s most sought-after items of navy {hardware}: F-16 fighter jets and ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles.
Biden’s visit lasted six hours. As he was leaving Ukraine, he repeated the remarks he had made after assembly Zelensky exterior his presidential residence. Writing on Twitter in each English and Ukrainian, Biden mentioned, “One yr later, Kyiv stands. Ukraine stands.”
