KYIV — President Biden made a surprise visit to the Ukrainian capital on Monday and announced almost a half-billion dollars in additional assistance to Ukraine, in a display of U.S. support for the country four days before the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Later Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the $460 million in aid would include ammunition for U.S.-provided missile and tank systems, air surveillance radars and “emergency assistance to keep Ukraine’s energy infrastructure up and running in the face of Russia’s relentless missile and drone attacks.”
In Kyiv, Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Mariinsky Palace, the official residence of the president, and told reporters that he traveled to Kyiv to show that the United States is “here to stay.”