OUR Biden’s visit V Kyiv just 24 hours before the annual anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine it sends a strong double message: practical and symbolic.

A year ago Mr. Putin ordered the Russian armed forces to invade simultaneously from several points. After 360 days without warning and within 10 hours, US President Joe Biden arrived in the Ukrainian capital by train from Poland, expressing his full support for the Ukrainian struggle.

Indicative of this unprecedented scenario was that while Biden was in Cathedral of Saint Michael – in the center of Kiev – sirens howled, which regularly happens in the Ukrainian capital.

“Freedom is priceless”

The President of the United States published two tweets at the end of his visit to Ukraine.

“Putin believed that Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. He thought he could overtake us. This is absolutely wrong. A year later, we are here together, together with the people of Ukraine.”

Putin believed that Ukraine was weak and the West was divided.

He thought he could outlive us.

He was just wrong. A year later, we are here together, together with the people of Ukraine.

— President Biden (@POTUS) February 20, 2023

In a follow-up tweet, he shared photos from his meeting and noted:

“President Zelensky and all Ukrainians every day remind the world what courage is. They remind us that freedom is priceless. And it’s worth fighting for. As many as you need.”

President Zelensky and all Ukrainians every day remind the world what courage is.

They remind us that freedom is priceless.

And it’s worth fighting for.

As many as needed. pic.twitter.com/GlBT0Sg9ZL

— President Biden (@POTUS) February 20, 2023

“Ukraine will win”

Joe Biden’s message was clear: “The United States will support Ukraine in its fight against Russia for as long as necessary.” And he expressed confidence that Ukraine would win.

The American President expressed the opinion that Vladimir Putin “he made a huge mistake” thinking that Russia could overcome Ukrainian resistance and backlash from Western allies.

Biden met with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, and together they went to the monument dedicated to the soldiers who died these days. nine years since Russia annexed it Crimea and his forces occupied parts of his eastern region Donbass.

Biden’s presence, according to his statement White Houseis intended to reaffirm “America’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.”

In accordance with The newspaper “New York TimesPresident Biden traveled 10 hours by train from Poland to reach Kyiv.

After the end of the visit Pentagon announced an increase in military support for Ukraine in the amount of $460 millionincluding ammunition for Himars, Javelin missiles And air surveillance radar.

Biden added that the announcement is imminent new wave of sanctions against individuals and companies “trying to fuel the Russian war machine”.

“The results of this visit will certainly be visible and will certainly be reflected in the battlefields for the liberation of our territories,” Zelensky, for his part, stressed, who repeatedly asked F-16 fighterswhich the US and other allies have not yet approved.

Demonstration of unity

National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan– who participated in Biden’s visit – said the US had briefed Russia for a trip a few hours before the departure of the president. However, he declined to comment on how Moscow reacted to this information.

White House officials said the trip had been planned for several months and that the final decision was made last Friday.

Over the past year, many foreign leaders have visited Ukraine, but the American president has not even tried to do so.

BBC believes that the appearance of the US president in the capital at a time when there is a war in which American soldiers are not participating is a clear demonstration of unity, especially at a time when Russia claims that Western support for Ukraine is waning.

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andrey Ermak, stated that the visit was strategic and historical. “Many issues are being resolved, and those that have stalled will be accelerated,” he stressed.

The US is one of Ukraine’s biggest allies and has announced military assistance so far. $24.9 billionaccording to the US State Department.

In January, Joe Biden announced that the US would send 31 tanks and longer range missiles.

As the New York Times notes, Vladimir Putin He is expected to give a speech on Tuesday, and Biden’s visit has likely increased pressure on the Russian leader.

The performance was already expected to be aggressive, she noted. Tatiana Stanovayaanalyst at the Carnegie Moscow Center, and now she can become “even tougher.”

According to BBC, Reuters, NYT.