US president Joe Biden surprisingly visited the Ukrainian capital yesterday, later flying to Warsaw to address NATO in a speech.
Before his scheduled trip to Poland, US president Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. In the midst of a warzone, president Biden managed to meet his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky while Russian leader Vladimir Putin was preparing his speech.
Putin addressed the Russian nation from the Kremlin, blaming once again the West for the invasion he started one year ago. “I want to repeat: it is they who are culpable for the war, and we are using force to stop it,” he said.
But Putin’s address paled in Western news compared to Biden’s secret visit. Kyiv lives under constant threat of Russian missile attacks, which have destroyed many civilian facilities. US intelligence, however, notified Russia of Biden’s visit a few hours before he arrived in Kyiv.
To get to the Ukrainian capital, Joe Biden flew to Przemysl, a historic fortress in Poland, and from there he took a train to Kyiv.
Today, Joe Biden finally arrived in Warsaw for his scheduled meeting with Polish president Andrzej Duda. In both cities, president Biden talked about Ukrainian victory and made important talks with the respective presidents.
Stronger ties
In particular, Biden met Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky again after the latter’s visit to Washington in December. Then, Biden pledged for a further weapons package to Ukraine, followed by the dispatch of 31 Abrams tanks.
On Monday, Zelensky and Biden discussed the possibility of sending other weapons to Ukraine. Indeed, after the visit a new American $450 million package was announced by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
However, no answer has been given to Ukraine concerning F-16 jets, though president Zelensky has made several requests for them.
In Poland, Biden took the time to deliver a longer speech. He talked about the inevitability of a Ukrainian victory, and that the US will be behind the Eastern European country “whatever it takes”.
"The defense of freedom is not the work of a day or a year, it’s always difficult,” Biden said. “But Ukraine is steel for the fight ahead and the United States, our allies and partners continue to have Ukraine’s back as it defends itself.”
Biden framed the war in Ukraine as a fight for democracy, calling for countries around the world to fight for freedom.
Rethorics aside, president Biden managed to come out from this war intact. After the disaster of Afghanistan, many thought that Biden was done for. But the war in Ukraine gave him another shot at foreign policy and so far has exploited this chance perfectly.
All points in his favor if he decides to run for president again in 2024.
