Last February, to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Biden took a secret trip to Kyiv, arriving in the Ukrainian capital after a 10-hour journey by train from Poland, where he travelled by Air Force One.
“His unexpected trip to Kyiv in February is now the centerpiece of his campaign, positioning him as a "true leader" in the lead-up to the 2024 election", the AFP news agency said.
Easily to be mistaken for an action movie trailer, the new 60-second “war zone” spot made its debut on social media on Thursday and is set to air on television in crucial US battleground states during prime time on Saturday, according to AFP.
The ad goes on to depict Biden walking "shoulder to shoulder with our allies in the war-torn streets, standing up for democracy in a place where a tyrant is waging war to take it away."
Biden currently faces challenges with lukewarm approval ratings and limited visibility, especially as he potentially prepares for a rematch against the media-savvy Trump next year, according to AFP.
“The message is simple: the Democrat's support against Russia's brutal 2022 invasion shows global leadership, while Republicans including Donald Trump have wobbled all over the place on the issue”, the agency notes.
While foreign policy seldom takes center stage in US elections, Team Biden evidently views his Ukraine stance as pivotal for countering Republican contenders.
Many Republican voters are increasingly skeptical about Ukraine, influenced by right-wing party messaging and conservative media that argue US funds should prioritise combating illegal immigration rather than aiding Ukraine.
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Source: AFP