US President Joe Biden pledged, Monday, to supply Ukraine with new weapons, during his surprise visit to Kiev, where he met his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, affirming the United States’ “steadfast” support for the country in the face of the Russian invasion.
President Biden said, according to a statement released by the White House, that he would announce the delivery of a new batch of equipment, including artillery ammunition and anti-armor and radar systems, to help “protect the Ukrainian people from aerial bombardment.”
The US President indicated that Washington will later announce additional sanctions against companies and individuals who try to evade sanctions or support the Russian war machine.
Biden said he and Zelensky were speaking on the phone a year ago during the beginning of the Russian offensive. He pointed out that Kiev has a special place in his heart, emphasizing by saying: “A year ago, the world was waiting for the fall of Kiev … and now it is still steadfast.”
Days before the completion of a full year of the launch of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, the US President stressed that Europe is witnessing the largest war in 75 years, stressing that the Americans see Russian aggression as a threat to the whole world, indicating that Russia wanted to remove Ukraine from the map.
Biden announced the provision of more Hemars and Javelin ammunition to Ukraine, and he will, in cooperation with Congress, provide billions of dollars to Ukraine.
Earlier in the day, Ukraine’s Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security announced Biden’s visit, saying it was important “to see not only verbal support and solidarity, but also the presence of our key partners in Kiev.”
