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LAST UPDATE | 20 Feb 2023
US PRESIDENT JOE Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv this morning to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The visit by Biden came ahead of the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began on 24 February 2022.
In a statement this morning, Biden confirmed that he had arrived in Ukraine and he would “reaffirm our unwavering and unflagging commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity”.
“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.”
“Putin’s war of conquest is failing”.
It was the first visit by a US president to Ukraine since 2008, and Biden’s overall eighth visit to the country.
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.
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 20, 2023
Biden confirmed that the US would be providing additional military support to Ukraine, including artillery ammunition, anti-armour systems and new air surveillance radar.
This additional military support is valued at approximately $500 million (€467 million).
He added that an additional package of sanctions against both “elites and companies” that are currently attempting to bypass existing sanctions will be rolled out.
Zelenskyy has welcomed the visit by Biden today, writing on Telegram that his visit is “an extremely important sign of support for all Ukrainians”.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine was “fighting for the liberties of the world”.
“This is an unequivocal signal that Russian attempts to win will have no chance,” said Zelenskyy, referring to Biden’s visit.
“Together we will protect our cities, our people from the terror of Russia.”
Biden told reporters that both the US and the world stands with Ukraine as the anniversary of the war approaches.
“One year later, Kyiv stands and Ukraine stands. Democracy stands,” Biden said.
The Americans stand with you and the world stands with you.
“We have every confidence that you’re going to continue to prevail.”
Biden’s visit comes days after a survey released by Rating Group found that 90% of Ukrainians have a positive attitude toward U.S. President Joe Biden and 92% of Ukrainians consider the U.S. friendly toward Ukraine.
There had been no prior indication that Biden was due to travel to Ukraine, but it follows a high-profile visit by Zelenskyy to the UK, France and Belgium earlier this month.
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.
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 20, 2023
However, photos and videos posted on social media in recent hours have shown the US President walking the streets of Kyiv with the Ukrainian President while air raid sirens ring out in the background.
Sky News have reported that Russia was made aware of Biden’s visit several hours before his arrival in order to discourage one of the occasional missile strikes that continue to hit Ukraine’s capital.
Earlier this morning, Biden and Zelenskyy visited St Michael’s Gold-Domed Cathedral, which has long been a symbol of Ukrainian resistance.
The leaders took part in a wreath laying at the Wall of Remembrance in the city, which honours Ukrainian soldiers who have died during the war.
Biden later visited the US embassy in Kyiv before leaving the capital, according to a White House pool report.
He is expected to arrive in Poland tomorrow where he is due to give a major speech in Warsaw – hours after a state of the nation address by Putin in Moscow that will be largely about the conflict in Ukraine.
Additional reporting by AFP and Jamie McCarron
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And you trust everything the US and Europe say?
@Liam O Connor: No, but I trust them a lot more than Russia.
@Liam O Connor: over the Russian regime yes. In a fight like this its always better to pick a side. I chose Ukraine and if Europe & the US join in then ill welcome that. Do you trust the US companies in Ireland?
Putin must be defeated at all costs.
@Seamus Quaide: And such a cost that is to us all in Ireland. I,m sure a pat on the back from Zelensky will help all those here who are struggling to put bread on the table.
@Ken Bramley: human solidarity is why you & I exist. Its not any gods or powerful individuals its good old lets help each other out. Its not even a selfless act as it preserves us all as individuals so as such is a selfish action. I want Russia defeated even though i believe other forces are at play. I have met enough ukrainians to know that standing with them will benefit Europe in the long run. Ukrainians are dying on Eastern European front so as to join us in our community and to protect democracy. Laugh & sneer all you wish but its we who need to back pat not the Ukrainians. Slava Ukraine.
@Ken Bramley: Whatever struggles we have in this country we are not bombarded by missiles every day.
@Ken Bramley: Only 1 person to blame for that. Simple as that.
Had just about enough of the “poor me” posts here.
@Ken Bramley: don’t conflate the cost of living with the war in Ukraine. They are two entirely unconnected causes. The cost of living crisis is because companies are taking this opportunity to price gouge us. For example the wholesale cost of electricity has dropped so much that it’s now at levels below where it was when the war started but has electric Ireland brought our bills back down to where they were? No! And out government is their major shareholder so is benefiting from their profits if you can’t see how important it is that Russia is defeated then there is no hop for you. If Russia wins NO country will be safe. Not even Ireland!!!
@Ken Bramley: you’ve actually hit the nail on the head there. Ukraine is one of the largest crop and fertiliser exporters. So Zelensky might not pat you on the back, but his country will literally put bread on your table.
@Colm O’Leary: Your last line is correct, however the rest is not.
Whole sales prices are still very high.
A good read to understand what is going on :
https://www.bonkers.ie/blog/gas-electricity/why-are-household-gas-and-electricity-bills-not-falling/
@Seamus Quaide: To the very last Ukraine..
Unsure what are the motivations behind world events, conflicts, espionage, and political intrigue?
Follow the money and see who profits from them, to find your answers.
@David Van-Standen: or simply follow what putin wants.
@David Van-Standen: This banner at a German Nazi Party rally in 1942:
Reads: “Never forget that England has forced this war upon us”
Photo Title: Minister of Propaganda Goebbels giving a speech at a party rally of the Gau Berlin of the NSDAP, 1942. “Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels is giving a speech at a party rally of the Gau Berlin of the NSDAP in the Berlin Sportpalast. Above the rank there hangs a banner with the inscription “Never forget that England has forced this war upon us”. Date created: 04/12/1942
@David Van-Standen: Mick Wallace and Claire Daly question this and then get labelled as Putinists.
@Ciarán O’ Donoghue: The biggest NATO salesman in the last 20 years is Putin.
@David Jordan: I don’t know why you are responding with Nazi propaganda? My comment was about the fact that conflicts including Ukraine are motivated by profit.
Both Russia and the USA and Europe have tried to profit from Ukraine since 1989, tried to manipulate its politicians and to lay claim to its resources through all means.
Putin chose to invade Ukraine first in 2014 and again in 2022, but that doesn’t alter the fact that this has been seized upon as a vehicle for profiting by US weapons manufacturers.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/18/us/politics/defense-contractors-ukraine-russia.html
In parallel US politicians are ensuring Ukrainian support for the US for generations to come and preference for US corporations to profit from the eventually rebuilding of Ukraine on US terms.
@David Van-Standen: Responding to Ukrainian defence demands because of Russian aggression. What should they defend themselves with? Fluffy pillows and feathers? The favourite weapons of PfP, Wallace et.al. Of course, you give your criminal idol Putin and Russian arms manufacturers a free pass. They can do know wrong. There is much more involved than your overused follow the £££ analogy.
@Stephen Gill: Are you following the finger painting version of geopolitics?
Why on earth would Putin be my idol?
Your simplistic view, which is unfortunately shared by many, is that there are good guys on one side and bad guys on the other, that you are motivated to moronically cheer or boo for respectively…
The reality is they are all the bad guys for want of a better term, all trying to grab whatever they can from anyone that cannot oppose them, or offer them something else as leverage, they do this by the use of economic carrot and stick coercion, by imposing economic isolation and ultimately if all else fails by military force.
Well done , Joe.
@Leonard O’mahony: yes credit we’re it’s due.
“The world is with you”. …. Except China, India, most of Asia, most of Africa.
So the only parts of the world that are with you are some of the EU and North America.
@Roger Bond: you’re right. Except those countries bought off by Russia.
@Roger Bond: Wrong, it’s far more that that. UN General assembly voted overwhelmingly to denounce Russia’s invasion.
@Roger Bond: copied from another thread:
143 voted to condemn Russia’s invasion, 34 abstained and only 5 Belarus, North Korea, Nicaragua, Russia, Syria voted against the UN resolution. This makes Biden correct.
@Paul Furey: Abstained China and India..about 3 billion people.. nearly half the world..
@Roger Bond: Those 3 billions people didn’t vote to abstain, their leaders did. China is nearly as bad as Russia when it comes to intimidation and opression against neighbouring countries. India geographical location and obsession for money is taking over their empathy and humanitarian side.
@Vasco: My guess is that China and India abstained in order to show USA they won’t be bossed. Nothing to do with how they feel about the war in Ukraine.
@Roger Bond: worst comeback ever.
Well there goes the surprise…
@Tom Kennedy: I’d say Joe is still surprised
@James Comiskey: he seems quite coherent to me. Using his age to suggest weakness is just ageist BS. He’s a brave president to visit an active war zone.
@Paul Whitehead: he was brilliant in his State of the Nation speech and is doing very well mic dropping the maga republicans. It’s about time the democrats starting calling out all the republicans lies and bonker conspiracies.
“the world” westnato is the world now aka internat commu… what a nonsense.
@Bass Boss: as @Jferr2021 just said “Wrong, it’s far more that that. UN General assembly voted overwhelmingly to denounce Russia’s invasion.”
@Bass Boss: 143 voted to condemn, 34 abstained and only 5 Belarus, North Korea, Nicaragua, Russia, Syria voted against the UN resolution.
@Bass Boss: what ever you do, don’t let facts get in the way of your nonsense .
@Paul Furey: still not the world..
@Bass Boss: a massive majority though. You’re stretching things again.
Utter propaganda, deception and narcissistic compassion. They are not reporting anywhere near the real number of deaths from the Turkey and Syria earthquakes. The figure is closer to 1 million than it is to 50,000. They are keeping the world MMS focussed on Ukraine. Hence also this visit and Zelensky’s ‘urgent’ European trip shortly after the earthquake.
@Michael Holland: and your sources are? I googled : 1 million +earthquake +turkey
The search results did cover the term “millions displaced” but that’s different. Maybe you’re confused?
@Michael Holland: by the way, it’s coming up to 1 year since your buddy invaded Ukraine, murdered so many and destroyed so much….so much for an “urgent” trip to take the attention away from the earthquakes. The same earthquakes that are STILL in the global news headlines every single day!
Hopefully you can supply verified sources for you impressive claims.
@Paul Furey: Impossible as it is for you to police all the truth; a friend of mine was in Turkey last week. Global media is controlled by a handful of so called global ‘elites’.
@Michael Holland: and yet Erdogan was estimating 5000 dead in the beginning and relief agencies were saying it would be more than 20,000. You still haven’t said where you million comes from.
Well done President Biden. Imagine if trump won, There would be no Ukraine and trump would be in moscow with his tub of vaseline.
A brave president. No way a cowardly Trump would have put himself in any real danger. Democracy at its finest.
@Paul Whitehead: he would have gone to Kyiv. To welcome putin on winning his beautiful war.
Caption reads: ‘Son….you gotta get your life together. You can still do your music thing or whatever it is you do, but come work in the family business…what ya say junior?.—- ‘It’s too late for all that Dad… where were you when we…I needed you…back then, when it was just me and mom?’
That explains why there was 3 C130′s in the middle of the airfield in Shannon last night.
@Jonathan McCoy: It needn’t really explain, it might – as C130s position through all the time. You need an app that tracks military, even though the boxes on Bidens plane and it’s immediate support would have been turned off.
Well done Joe, I’m sure trump would have done the same if he hadn’t LOST the election but maybe not as he has an aversion to going to conflict zones, no doubt because of his medically confirmed foot problems which never stopped running away however.
Send in the F-16’s then.
Must be going to collect his sons money from Zelensky
have your say