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2023 visit by Joe Biden to Ukraine

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U.S. President Joe Biden with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his visit in February 2023

On February 20, 2023, the President of the United States, Joe Biden, visited Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. It was his first visit since the 2022 Russian invasion started.[1][2] Mostly because of security concerns, he did not tell the public before his arrival. Only two journalists went with him.[3][4]

This was the first time in modern history that a current U.S. President has traveled to an active war zone not controlled by the American military. It was the closest a president had come to a combat zone since Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War.[3]

The Pentagon and the Secret Service did not want Biden to visit Kyiv. Some people thought he might meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy near the Polish border or in Lviv, Western Ukraine.[5] The visit came when US poll numbers began to drop about supporting Ukraine in the war.[6][7]

During his visit, Biden announced more military aid for Ukraine, worth US$500 million and including ammunition for a rocket launcher system.[8][9][10]

Reactions to the visit were mixed, with some Republicans criticizing it and many Democrats supporting it.[11] Many Russian politicians and military experts, such as former President Dmitry Medvedev, criticized Biden.[12] Polish President Andrzej Duda said the trip was important for the Ukrainian soldiers.[13]

References

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  1. ↑ Polityuk, Pavel; Hunder, Max (February 20, 2023). "Biden, in Kyiv ahead of war anniversary, vows support as long as needed". Reuters. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  2. ↑ Borger, Julian (February 20, 2023). "Joe Biden's train ride to Kyiv makes history but will it win him a second term?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Baker, Peter; Shear, Michael D. (2023-02-21). "Biden's Surreal and Secretive Journey Into a War Zone". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  4. ↑ "Plane, motorcade, train: How Joe Biden got to Kyiv in secret". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  5. ↑ "The Secret Service Opposed Biden's Trip to Ukraine. Here's Why He Went Anyway". Time. 20 February 2023. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  6. ↑ "Support for Ukraine aid softens in U.S. public, poll says". PBS NewsHour. 2023-02-15. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  7. ↑ "Ukraine aid support softens in the US: AP-NORC Poll". AP NEWS. 2023-02-15. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  8. ↑ Beaumont, Peter; Koshiw, Isobel; Harding, Luke; Koshiw, Peter Beaumont Isobel (February 20, 2023). "Joe Biden visits Kyiv in major show of support for Ukraine". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  9. ↑ Hunder, Pavel Polityuk and Max (February 20, 2023). "Biden makes unannounced trip to Ukraine". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Ukraine war: Biden to frame conflict as battle for democracy". BBC News. February 21, 2023. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  11. ↑ Staff, Al Jazeera. "How the US reacted to Biden's visit to Ukraine". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  12. ↑ "Biden's Ukraine visit upstages Putin and leaves Moscow's military pundits raging". CNN. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  13. ↑ "Biden in Poland: US, allies 'will never waver' in Ukraine". Associated Press. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
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