Four days before the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Joe Biden made a surprise visit to kyiv on Monday, where he met Volodymyr Zelensky.
For the first time since the start of the war in Ukraine, on February 24, 2022, Joe Biden visited Kiev in a surprise visit. The American president, who met and exchanged with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, announced $500 million in additional military aid. Japan is also set to offer new aid to Ukraine, while China has denied considering supplying arms to Russian forces.
Franceinfo returns to the highlights of the day on the front of the war in Ukraine.
From kyiv, Joe Biden announces $500 million in additional military aid
During his surprise visit to kyiv on Monday, Joe Biden promised new armaments and support “steadfast” to its Ukrainian ally.
As a precaution, Washington warned Moscow “a few hours before” of the departure of the American president in kyiv, according to the national security adviser of the White House, Jake Sullivan. Once arrived, Joe Biden announced that his country would once again increase the aid it provides to Ukraine. During a press briefing with Volodymyr Zelensky, he mentioned 500 million dollars of additional assistance, the details of which will be announced in the coming days.
With Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky talks about long-range weapons
Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the expected deliveries of American Abrams tanks, announced a few weeks ago after long procrastination and insisted on the needs of his army for artillery ammunition with a range of more than 100 kilometers. Washington has promised but their number and the timetable for their dispatch remain uncertain.
The Ukrainian head of state underlined having discussed with Joe Biden long-range armaments, a subject “Very important” because Ukraine needs such systems to hit Russian supply lines. “This conversation (with the American president) brings us closer to victory”, he blurted out. The Ukrainian head of state saw it as a “extremely important sign of support”noting that the two leaders wanted to discuss “how to win (the war from) this year”.
Vladimir Putin to deliver his state of the union address
Vladimir Putin is due to deliver a major annual speech to the Russian political elite at 10 a.m. (Paris time) on Tuesday, an event that should be largely devoted to the war in Ukraine. The Russian offensive launched almost a year ago, which was to be lightning, quickly bogged down and, in the spring of 2022, Vladimir Putin had to give up taking Kiev, withdrawing his forces from northern Ukraine. He should return to the commitment of Russian forces in this conflict.
On the same day, Joe Biden is due to meet Polish leaders in Warsaw, among kyiv’s main European supporters, and should also speak on the conflict.
Japan wants to help Ukraine with 5.5 billion dollars
The Japanese Prime Minister took an additional step on Monday in the direction of aid to Ukraine, with 5.5 billion dollars promised to kyiv. “There is still a need to help people whose livelihoods have been destroyed by war and to restore destroyed infrastructure,” did he declare. Fumio Kishida also announced that the leaders of the G7 countries (Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, as well as the European Union) will hold a online meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday 24 February.
Chinese government denies considering supplying arms to Russia
It is a formal denial. “We do not accept the United States pointing fingers at China-Russia relations, let alone exerting pressure and coercion”Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said on Monday, accusing Washington of “spreading false information”. Beijing could provide “weapons” to Russia to support its offensive in Ukraine, warned Antony Blinken on Sunday, after a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.
Ukrainian military on alert over nationwide shelling
Almost a year after the start of the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces, the Ukrainian army is still worried about new strikes by Moscow on its territory. “The threat of further Russian airstrikes and missiles on the entire territory of Ukraine remains high”the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine wrote in a Facebook post on Monday. “The enemy continues to concentrate its main efforts on conducting offensive actions in the directions of Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Shakhtar”in eastern Ukraine.