Biden and Putin
The White House gave Russia “hours” notice that US President Biden planned to visit Ukraine yesterday, Monday, according to American national security advisor Jake Sullivan.
Sullivan told reporters that Moscow was notified about Biden’s plans just before he left.
The heads-up was for “de-confliction purposes,” Sullivan said, though he didn’t specify who at the Kremlin was contacted or how.
Biden’s visit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was otherwise announced and came as a surprise to media outlets as well as onlookers.
Biden said Monday that the US would continue to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia, and committed to give $500 million more in military aid to Zelenskyy’s forces.
The US president’s trip comes just days ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials warned last week that Moscow could step up offensive efforts in the coming days, and Kyiv’s National Security and Defense Council chief cautioned that the country “must maintain maximum calm.”
Source: Business Insider US
