JAKARTA - United States President Joe Biden suddenly visited Kyiv, reaffirmed his country's support for Kyiv and assessed Russia's miscalculation regarding the invasion that would be in the next year this weekend.
President Biden arrived in Kyiv at 8 a.m. local time, according to reporters traveling with him inside Ukraine.
Then, President Biden's motorcade arrived at the Mariinsky Palace just after 08.30 a.m. local time. He was greeted at the entrance by President Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska.
In talks, President Biden revealed his reasons for visiting the Ukrainian capital as the war entered its second year.
"I think it is very important that there is no doubt, no doubt at all, about US support for Ukraine in this war," President Biden said, as reported by CNN on February 20.
"The Ukrainian people have stepped forward in a way that some people have never done in the past."
Furthermore, President Biden stressed there was broad bipartisan support in Washington for Ukraine's struggle, even as some Republicans refused to provide further assistance.
"For all the disagreements we have in our Congress on some issues, there is a significant agreement on support for Ukraine," he said.
"It's not just about freedom in Ukraine... It's about freedom of democracy at large," President Biden said.
When asked about the importance of being in Kyiv, President Biden said that this was his eighth visit to the city.
He added that the purpose of his visit was to convey to President Zelensky, "The US is here to stay. We will not go," President Biden stressed.
Furthermore, President Biden assessed that President Vladimir Putin's war of conquest failed, ahead of a year of the Russian invasion.
"Putin thinks Ukraine is weak and the West is divided. He thinks he can last longer than us. I don't think he thinks that way now," he explained.
"He is completely wrong. One year later, the evidence is here, in this room. We are standing here together," said President Biden.
"One year later, Kyiv was founded. And Ukraine remains standing. Democracy stands. America supports you and the world supports you."
President Biden said Kyiv had "frozen part of my heart."
Historic. Timely. Brave. I welcomed @POTUS in Kyiv as Russian full-scale aggression approaches its one-year mark. I am thankful to the U.S. for standing with Ukraine and for our strong partnership. We are determined to work together to ensure Ukraine’s victory. pic.twitter.com/EPtH3fLWWD
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 20, 2023
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