During a meeting with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden said that additional sanctions would be announced this week against the Russian elite and companies trying to evade sanctions to "back the Russian war machine," the Reuters news agency reported.
US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky meet in Kyiv on Monday. Photo: EPA/UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE
The new US military aid package will include artillery ammunition, anti-armour systems, and air surveillance radars "to help protect the Ukrainian people from aerial bombardments," Biden said.
"The cost that Ukraine has had to pay is extraordinarily high," Biden told reporters, as quoted by Reuters. "Sacrifices have been far too great."
Visiting the Ukrainian capital for the first time since the start of Russia's war on Ukraine almost a year ago, Biden vowed that Washington would stand with Kyiv as long as it takes, broadcaster CNN reported.
Biden said his trip was intended to "reaffirm our unwavering and unflagging commitment to Ukraine's democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity" nearly a year after Russia invaded its neighbour.
"One year later, Kyiv stands," Biden said in a speech in the Ukrainian capital on Monday. "And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands."
"Historic, timely, brave': Zelensky
Ukraine's Zelensky hailed a "historic," "timely," and "brave" visit by the American leader to his country.
He said: "This visit of the US president to Ukraine, the first in 15 years, is the most important visit in the entire history of Ukraine-US relations."
Zelensky tweeted: "Historic. Timely. Brave. I welcomed the President of the United States 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."
Zelensky's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, posted a photograph of a memorial plaque honouring Biden on the "Alley of Courage" in Kyiv.
'Unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity'
Biden said in a tweet on Monday: "As we approach the anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, I'm in Kyiv today to meet with President Zelenskyy and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity."
He added: "When Putin launched his invasion nearly one year ago, he thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. He thought he could outlast us. But he was dead wrong."
Biden also pledged to continue supporting Ukraine as it defends itself from Russian aggression.
"Over the last year, the United States has built a coalition of nations from the Atlantic to the Pacific to help defend Ukraine with unprecedented military, economic, and humanitarian support – and that support will endure," Biden said in his Twitter message.
'An extended discussion on our support for Ukraine'
In a statement posted by the White House, Biden said: "Today, in Kyiv, I am meeting with President Zelenskyy and his team for an extended discussion on our support for Ukraine."
He added: "I will announce another delivery of critical equipment, including artillery ammunition, anti-armor systems, and air surveillance radars to help protect the Ukrainian people from aerial bombardments. And I will share that later this week, we will announce additional sanctions against elites and companies that are trying to evade or backfill Russia’s war machine."
Joe Biden (right) and Volodymyr Zelensky (left) embrace each other during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine in Kyiv on Monday. Photo: EPA/UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE
Air raid sirens blared across the Ukrainian capital as Biden visited the city but there were no reports of Russian missile or air strikes, the Reuters news agency reported.
'I look forward to traveling on to Poland'
Biden is expected to visit Poland on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The US president said in his statement on Monday that he looked forward "to traveling on to Poland to meet President Duda and the leaders of our Eastern Flank Allies, as well as deliver remarks on how the United States will continue to rally the world to support the people of Ukraine and the core values of human rights and dignity in the UN Charter that unite us worldwide."
Polish President Andrzej Duda has said in a media interview that he will ask Biden to send more American soldiers and military equipment to Poland when the US leader visits Warsaw this week amid Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.
The US ambassador to Poland, Mark Brzezinski, said last week that Biden would deliver a key speech to the Polish people on Tuesday afternoon in the gardens of Warsaw’s Royal Castle.
The US embassy in Warsaw has said that Biden will on Tuesday "deliver remarks ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, addressing how the United States has rallied the world to support the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom and democracy, and how we will continue to stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes."
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Monday is day 362 of Russia's war in Ukraine.
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Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters, CNN
Click on the audio player above for a report by Radio Poland’s Michał Owczarek.