President Biden pays surprise visit to Ukraine

President Joe Biden with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv. Feb 20, 2023

UPDATE: Tuesday, Feb 21, 2023 · 12:51:50 AM +00:00 · kos

Biden’s visit to Kyiv is proving to be an obvious morale boost to Ukrainian forces on the ground: 

Update from Bakhmut, 20 February - Magyar pic.twitter.com/MntP6z6uhe

— Dmitri (@wartranslated) February 20, 2023

On the other side, his visit is clearly distressing the Russians, reminded of their impotency. 

Putin’s Cronies: We Should Have Blown Up Biden in Kyiv

State TV experts were long-faced, mulling over their ideas of how to best harm Americans: from killing Biden to destroying Elon Musk's Starlink, blowing up US pipelines and launching cyberattacks.https://t.co/OpQIn6OsOc

— Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) February 20, 2023

UPDATE: Monday, Feb 20, 2023 · 5:27:42 PM +00:00 · kos

This moment is heavy with significance. 

The significance of @POTUS visit to Kyiv today is huge. The last time the US presidents visited Ukraine was in 2008. Biden's presence is a massive show of the US support to Ukraine. First photos show him paying respects at the Wall of remembrance of 🇺🇦 soldiers killed by Russia pic.twitter.com/kOXAMuSdxt

— Olga Tokariuk (@olgatokariuk) February 20, 2023

UPDATE: Monday, Feb 20, 2023 · 4:24:45 PM +00:00 · Barbara Morrill

President Biden meeting with the Orthodox leaders should really enrage Putin even more. 

President Zelenskyy and all Ukrainians remind the world every day what courage is.

They remind us that freedom is priceless.

And worth fighting for.

For as long as it takes. pic.twitter.com/GlBT0Sg9ZL

— President Biden (@POTUS) February 20, 2023

UPDATE: Monday, Feb 20, 2023 · 3:50:05 PM +00:00 · kos

Oh I can’t wait for the translation: 

pic.twitter.com/4Mfk5GUqUX

— Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) February 20, 2023

Russian state propagandists will be in rare form. The milbloggers even more so, because of this: 

The White House would not go into specifics, but national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that it notified Moscow of Biden’s visit to Kyiv shortly before his departure from Washington “for deconfliction purposes” in an effort to avoid any miscalculation that could bring the two nuclear-armed nations into direct conflict.

That’s a great public excuse. “To avoid conflict.” The reality is the U.S. told Russia to stand the fuck down, and Putin had no choice but to comply. That is beyond humiliating. Let’s see how that reverberates through Russian nationalist circles. 

UPDATE: Monday, Feb 20, 2023 · 3:37:41 PM +00:00 · kos

Uh oh, the perpetual cranks have entered the room. 

This is incredibly insulting.

Today on our President’s Day, Joe Biden, the President of the United States chose Ukraine over America, while forcing the American people to pay for Ukraine’s government and war.

I can not express how much Americans hate Joe Biden. pic.twitter.com/nHXzG67YOL

— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) February 20, 2023

Trending items are "President Donald J. Trump," "Impeach Biden," and "Worst President." The talking point is that Biden chose Ukraine over Ohio, because life is binary, and they would’ve been so happy, full of respect and admiration for Biden, had he shown up to the place the Republican governor wanted the feds to stay away from.

UPDATE: Monday, Feb 20, 2023 · 2:06:11 PM +00:00 · Barbara Morrill

Ukrainians are elated that President Biden visited:

On the streets of the capital, Ukrainians were elated at Mr. Biden’s visit, which they took as a signal of the U.S.’s steadfast support for their cause.

“Thousands of the best Ukrainian sons and daughters are dying in the fight for their future,” said Dmytro Melnychenko, a 25-year-old entrepreneur in Kyiv. “So it’s very important for them to see that the U.S. and the world stands with us.” [...]

“This is a message to Putin,” said Zadumin Dmitrii, 26, who noted that just a year ago, Russian forces were on the doorstep of Kyiv, which was now hosting the most powerful man in the world. “Ukrainians are not alone in this war.” [...]

“He was walking through the streets during the air alarm," said Yuliia Trynka, 28. "Like common Ukrainians.”

UPDATE: Monday, Feb 20, 2023 · 1:26:42 PM +00:00 · Barbara Morrill

One year later, Kyiv stands. Ukraine stands. Democracy stands. America — and the world — stands with Ukraine.

Рік потому Київ стоїть. Україна стоїть. Демократія стоїть. Америка – і світ – стоїть з Україною. pic.twitter.com/6i02u3aFgd

— President Biden (@POTUS) February 20, 2023

UPDATE: Monday, Feb 20, 2023 · 1:10:32 PM +00:00 · Barbara Morrill

From the White House press pool report, some remarks from President Zelenskyy: 

“This conversation brings us closer to the victory. Today our negotiations were very fruitful …They were very important and crucial.”

He said the moment stood as a “clear signal that Russia’s attempts of relaunch will have no chance.”

He said the first call on the night of Feb. 24th last year took place to the United States.

“This will be remembered eternally.” 

And from President Biden: 

“One year later, Kyiv stands. And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands,” he declared. “The Americans stand with you and the world stands with you.”

“President Zelensky, you deeply honor me here in Kyiv with you today,” he said.

“Putin thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided,” he added. “He thought he could outlast us. I don’t think he’s thinking that right now.”

“He’s just been plain wrong,” Biden said of Putin. “One year later, the evidence is right here in this room. We stand here together.”

UPDATE: Monday, Feb 20, 2023 · 12:44:58 PM +00:00 · Barbara Morrill

From President Zelenskyy: 

Historic. Timely. Brave. I welcomed @POTUS 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. pic.twitter.com/EPtH3fLWWD

— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 20, 2023

UPDATE: Monday, Feb 20, 2023 · 12:40:53 PM +00:00 · Barbara Morrill

Via the White House press office, President Biden has left Kyiv.

President Joe Biden slipped away from a previously announced visit to Poland on Monday and made a surprise visit to Ukraine, and walked through the streets Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Coming just four days before the anniversary of Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion, Biden’s visit to Kyiv was a powerful demonstration of America’s ongoing support for Ukraine.

As The Washington Post reports, air raid sirens blared as Biden and Zelenskyy viewed St. Michael’s Monastery and the Mariinskyi Palace. The visit also included meetings between Zelenskyy and Biden in the presidential offices.

Biden has not previously visited Ukraine due to security concerns. Several blocks of Kyiv were cleared on Sunday evening, apparently in anticipation of Biden’s visit. Other leaders who have visited Kyiv have boarded a train in Poland and reached the city by rail out of concerns over the safety of flying to a local airport. It’s not currently known if President Biden followed the same route or how long he will remain in Kyiv.

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