Zelenskyy, Biden meet in Kyiv amid unannounced visit
Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Photo:Офіс президента)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has met with his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, who arrived in Ukraine for an unannounced visit for the first time since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the Office of the President of Ukraine reported on Feb. 20.
Zelenskyy met Biden at the entrance to Mariinskyi Palace in downtown Kyiv, before visiting several other locations in the capital.
Zelenskyy thanked the U.S. leader, calling his visit “a significant moment of support for Ukraine.”
“The first phone call supporting Ukraine came from the White House,” the Ukrainian president said.
“Thank you for your leadership. I also thank you for the bipartisan support, for the support of Congress.”
Zelenskyy noted that he would talk to the U.S. president about the situation on the frontline and about “the Ukrainian people facing ordeals.”
Ukrainian presidential chief-of-staff Andriy Yermak said on the Telegram messenger that Biden’s visit is “strategic” and “many issues are being resolved and those that are pending will be speeded up.”
Meanwhile, Biden spoke about his intention to discuss how the United States and its allies can best help Ukraine in its fight for freedom and independence.
“Much has changed since my last trip. Terrible things have happened, an invasion, but at the same time, the Ukrainian people have stepped up in a way that very few people have ever had in their defense. And they helped us embrace the notion of democracy.”
Officially, Biden is expected to be in Poland for a three-day visit ahead of the Feb. 24 anniversary of the Russian war against Ukraine.
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