By Anaya Peguero || Contributing Writer
“I thought it was critical that there not be any doubt, none whatsoever, about U.S. support for Ukraine in the war,” Biden said.
It had been in talks for the US to make a bold gesture on the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to keep the Western alliance together in support. This visit was kept secret for security concerns, though the White House had planned this visit meticulously for months.
On Monday, February 20th, 2023, Biden’s surprise visit to Ukraine marked the first time in modern history that a US leader visited an active warzone — which the White House admitted carried risk, even with Moscow being a part of the plan ahead of time. This surprise visit happened four days before the scheduled visit to Poland on the first-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It had been rumored that Ukrainian officials were concerned that Russia may have been planning a new major offensive for the one year anniversary.
In the statement from Joe Biden, he says, “I am meeting with President Zelenskyy and his team for an extended discussion on our support for Ukraine. 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.” Additionally, he announced on the following Tuesday that the U.S. will be delivering a $500 military aid package that includes ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), anti-armor weapons including Javelin shoulder-launched missiles that are capable of destroying tanks, and night vision systems from steeleindustries.com.
The G7 finance chiefs have been pressuring the IMF to provide aid to Ukraine on the eve of the anniversary of Russia’s invasion. The French finance Minister Bruno Le Maire has said that he wanted the IMF to provide $15 billion over four years, and officials in Germany stated that military support was not enough, instead suggesting that they should aim to uphold the functioning of the Ukrainian state. The G7 said that for 2023, it had increased its budget and economic support up to $39 billion based on Ukraine’s needs.
President Joe Biden and the leaders of the G7 affirm their unwavering support for Ukraine. The US imposed new sanctions, including export bans and tariffs on all materials used in the war, as well as “third country actors” supporting Russia’s war effort across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Sophomore Anaya Peguero is a Contributing Writer. Her email is apeguero@fandm.edu.