New Delhi: US President Joe Biden, who visited Kyiv on Monday ahead of the Russia-Ukraine conflict anniversary, promised new military aid for Ukraine worth $ 500 million. Biden also said additional sanctions would be announced this week against the Russian elite and companies trying to evade sanctions to "back the Russian war machine", as reported by the news agency Reuters.
The military aid package promised by Biden will include artillery ammunition, anti-armour systems and air surveillance radars "to help protect the Ukrainian people from aerial bombardments," he said, as quoted by Reuters. During the visit Bidenn said that freedom is priceless and it is worth fighting for as long as it takes.
"Freedom is priceless. It is worth fighting for as long as it takes. And that's how long we're going to be with you, Mr. President. As long as it takes," Biden told President Volodymyr Zelenskiy after talks, as quoted by Reuters. He also said that the sacrifices made by Ukraine have been far too great. Biden, who visited Kyiv for the first time since Russia’s invasion last year assured that Washington would stand with Ukraine as long as it takes.
"The cost that Ukraine has had to pay is extraordinarily high. Sacrifices have been far too great," Biden told reporters, as quoted by Reuters.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called Biden’s visit to Kyiv "historic". He said that both Biden and Zelenskiy were pleased with their talks and that the visit sent a message of resolve to Russia, which he called "the swamp".
"This visit is the victory of the Ukrainian people and President Zelenskiy... It is a clear signal to the swamp - no one is afraid of you!" he said, as quoted by Reuters. During his unannounced visit, Biden walked around central Kyiv promising to stand with Ukraine. According to a White House pool report by a Wall Street Journal reporter, Biden travelled to Kyiv by overnight train from Poland which arrived after 10 hours on Monday.