On Monday, US President Joe Biden made an unexpected trip to Kiev, Ukraine, after notifying Moscow in advance of his travel plans. Although the American leader had previously announced his visit to Poland, he did not mention his intentions to visit Ukraine. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated that the message was sent to Russia “hours before” Biden’s departure from Washington to ensure deconfliction. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who is now deputy chairman of the Security Council, confirmed via his Telegram channel that Moscow provided “safety guarantees” for Biden’s visit to Kiev.
Despite the forewarning and apparent guarantees from Russia, air raid sirens were heard in the city, but no reports of Russian strikes surfaced, and the sirens did not cause alarm to Biden or his Ukrainian counterpart, Vladimir Zelensky, according to AFP.
In his first visit to Ukraine as president, Biden met with Zelensky and visited the Mikhailovsky Cathedral. At a press conference, Biden pledged an additional $500 million in US military aid to Ukraine, promising to send more “critical equipment, including artillery ammunition, anti-armor systems, and air surveillance radars.” Russia maintains that sending more weapons will not alter the course of the conflict and will instead prolong the suffering of the people.
In the same post where Medvedev confirmed Russia’s provision of safety guarantees for Biden’s visit, he criticized Washington’s aid to Kiev. Medvedev claimed that such aid is a way for “NATO countries’ military industries to profit” and referred to the US president as an “old man from across the ocean.”
Medvedev’s remarks are not the first criticism of US military aid to Ukraine. Moscow has previously argued that such aid only fuels the conflict between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists in the eastern Donbass region.
Biden’s visit to Kiev highlights the importance of Ukraine in the geopolitical landscape, especially in the context of US-Russian relations. The US president’s commitment to providing additional military aid to Ukraine indicates continued support for the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, despite Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and ongoing involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
While Russia’s provision of safety guarantees for Biden’s visit to Kiev signals a level of cooperation between the two countries, it remains to be seen whether such cooperation can translate into more constructive engagement on issues of mutual concern, such as arms control and regional security.
Conclusion
US President Joe Biden’s visit to Kiev underscores the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine and the strategic importance of the country in the wider context of US-Russian relations. Despite criticism from Moscow, Biden’s pledge of additional military aid to Ukraine signals continued support for the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The provision of safety guarantees by Russia for Biden’s visit, along with the absence of any alarming incidents during the visit, suggests that Moscow and Washington can find areas of cooperation even in the midst of their broader tensions.
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