US President Biden arrives in Kyiv, plans to announce new military aid package, additional sanctions

Biden's statement on his visit to Ukraine was posted on the White House website.

"As the world prepares to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, I am in Kyiv today to meet with President Zelenskyy and reaffirm our unwavering and unflagging commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity," the US president said.

President Biden said that Putin was wrong when he thought Ukraine is weak and the West is divided almost a year ago. 

“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," the US President said.

It is emphasized that the US has created a coalition of countries from the Atlantic to the Pacific to help Ukraine by providing military, economic and humanitarian support and that this support will continue.

"I also look 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," Biden added.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with his US counterpart Joe Biden.

"Joseph Biden, welcome to Kyiv! Your visit is an extremely important sign of support for all Ukrainians,” the Ukrainian leader wrote on his telegram channel.

The video of Biden on St. Michael's Square has already spread across Telegram channels.

“Joe Biden is really in Kyiv! On St. Michael's Square,” wrote Andriy Tsaplienko, Ukrainian journalist.

Earlier, Bild journalist Julian Röpke reported the information on Twitter.

“Biden in Kyiv. A city that should have been under Russian control for 360 days. What a strong signal to dictator Putin,” the journalist tweeted.

Today, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Melnyk said that a "surprise" is being prepared for the visit of "important partners of Ukraine" to Kyiv. The police reported that the center of the capital was blocked due to the visit of several foreign delegations. 

An Israeli parliamentary delegation also arrived in Kyiv. 

• Earlier it was reported that US President Joe Biden would visit Poland from February 20 to 22.