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President Joe Biden made an unannounced visit to the Ukrainian capital on Monday, ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion. During the five-hour visit, he met with the Ukrainian president and pledged more military aid. VOA White House correspondent Anita Powell reports from Washington.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptBiden-Ukraine Visit
HEADLINE: Biden Makes Surprise Kyiv Visit Ahead of Invasion Anniversary
TEASER: US president pledges $460 million in new aid as Russia's war with Ukraine nears one-year mark
PUBLISHED AT: 2/20/23 at 838 pm
BYLINE: Anita Powell
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER: AP, Reuters, AFP, Zoom
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, Holly Franko
VIDEO SOURCE (S): AP, ZOOM (WITH LICENSE)
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 3:13
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
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EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[President Joe Biden made an unannounced visit to the Ukrainian capital on Monday, ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion. During the five-hour visit, he met with the Ukrainian president and pledged more military aid. VOA White House correspondent Anita Powell reports from Washington. ]]
((NARRATOR))
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine approached a grim anniversary this week, it was Joe Biden – not Vladimir Putin – striding through Kyiv on a sunny Monday morning.
((President Joe Biden))
"It's presumptuous of me to say this, but I thought it was important that the president of the United States be here. // Remember, I was warning the world that he [Vladimir Putin] was going to attack, I was certain of it and I thought it was critical that there would not be any doubt, none whatsoever, about U.S. support for Ukraine in their war against the brutal attack by Russia. You know, it's good to be back in Kyiv.”
((NARRATOR))
Biden was supposed to depart for Poland on Monday, but instead flew via Germany to Poland, and then made a 10-hour train ride to Kyiv, where he delivered a strong message about a conflict that he has described as a battle between autocracy and democracy.
((President Joe Biden))
"Democracy stands. The Americans stand with you, and the world stands with you. Kyiv has captured a part of my heart, I must say.”
((NARRATOR))
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed Biden’s announcement of an aid package worth nearly half a billion dollars that the Pentagon said would include ammunition, artillery rounds, mortars, anti-armor systems, air surveillance radars, vehicles, parts and more support equipment. Biden also vowed new U.S. sanctions against Russia but did not mention Ukraine’s request for fighter jets and advanced weapons.
((Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President))
“I think that is a historical moment for our country and very important to be able to speak detailing about the situation on the battlefield. But I think almost to speak about people, about Ukrainians, about Americans, I think that is huge and so, so difficult period for societies and what we have to do to stop the war, to have success in this war, to make Ukraine more stronger and how to win this year. You're very welcome, Mr. President. Thank you so much.”
But analysts warn that the optimism may be premature.
On Monday, Russian authorities claimed they had captured a crucial town in the nation’s east.
[[Radio: Mathieu Droin is a visiting fellow in the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.]]
((Mathieu Droin, Center for Strategic & International Studies)) ((Zoom))
“It’s far from over, unfortunately. The fights are still raging and both Ukraine and Russia still think that they can prevail militarily. So obviously, we're far from this, and the situation on the ground shows it."
And, he said, Biden's visit to Kyiv does not make Putin look good.
((Mathieu Droin, Center for Strategic & International Studies)) ((Zoom))
“Obviously for Vladimir Putin, having the president of the United States being in Ukraine just a few days before the anniversary is of course a very, very bad signal.”
((NARRATOR))
The White House says it informed Russian authorities hours ahead of Biden’s visit. National security adviser Jake Sullivan, who briefed reporters after Biden left, said he could not describe Washington’s message to Moscow or Moscow’s response because of the “sensitive nature of those communications.”
((Anita Powell, VOA News, Washington))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Washington D. C.
Embargo DateFebruary 20, 2023 21:06 EST
Byline
((Anita Powell, VOA News, Washington))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
