China News Service, February 21 (Chen Caixia) In the early morning of the 20th local time, US President Biden took the presidential plane "Air Force One" and left Andrews Air Force Base for Ukraine. Later, he met Ukrainian President Zelensky in Kiev. meet.

  This is Biden's first visit to Ukraine since the escalation of the Ukraine crisis nearly a year ago.

After the "lightning visit", Biden quickly left Ukraine.

Although he only stayed there for less than a day, behind Biden's trip, he undoubtedly revealed a lot of important information...

A secret itinerary launched under the night

  According to CNN, the trip was not reflected in Biden's public schedule, and the visit was conducted in secret, and reporters on the accompanying plane were not allowed to bring filming equipment.

According to the report, this trip is different from previous ones because "Ukraine is an active war zone that the U.S. military cannot control, which makes the visit on the 20th different from previous visits by the president to Iraq or Afghanistan."

  Before Biden's visit, many streets in the center of Kiev were blocked by the police, and the security work of the Ukrainian military can be said to be extremely tight.

  At 8:00 a.m. local time on the 20th, Biden arrived in Kiev and was greeted by Bridget Brinker, the US ambassador to Ukraine.

About half an hour later, Biden's motorcade arrived at the Mariinsky Palace and met with Zelensky and his wife.

On February 20, 2023 local time, US President Biden and Ukrainian President Zelensky met and talked in front of a church in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.

  "Thank you for coming!" Zelensky said, shaking Biden's hand.

Biden also asked, "More importantly, how are the kids?" He also added, "Nice to meet you."

  Later, Biden and Zelensky visited a church in Kiev together.

At that time, air defense sirens sounded in Kiev.

As the alarm sounded, the two quickly left the scene.

  According to reports, Biden's entourage is relatively small, including US National Security Advisor Jack Sullivan, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jan O'Malley Dillon and Oval Office Director of Operations Anne Tomasini.

  Biden visited Ukraine six times when he was vice president of the United States.

The last time Biden visited Ukraine before becoming president was in January 2017.

Before this "lightning" visit in 2023, Biden is still the highest-ranking official of the US government to visit Ukraine.

Because neither former US President Trump nor former Vice President Pence visited Ukraine.

Biden announces important decisions: aid and sanctions

  After appearing unexpectedly in Ukraine, Biden said that the purpose of his trip was to reiterate the United States' "unwavering" support for Ukraine, and on the same day announced additional aid worth $500 million and a series of new sanctions against Russia.

  According to the White House statement that day, the United States will provide Ukraine with more "Hippocampus" multiple rocket launcher shells, anti-tank systems and air surveillance radar and other weapons and equipment.

The specific details will be officially announced to the outside world on the 21st.

In addition, during the meeting, Zelensky and Biden also discussed supply issues such as the provision of long-range weapons and "weapons and equipment that have never been provided to Ukraine before."

On February 20, 2023 local time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky watched as U.S. President Joe Biden signed the guest book at the Mariinsky Palace.

  "As we approach the one-year anniversary of the Ukraine crisis, I met with President Zelenskiy in Kiev today to reaffirm our strong commitment to Ukraine's democracy, sovereignty and territorial integrity," Biden said in a statement.

  Zelensky told a news conference after the talks that Biden's visit to Kiev would help Ukraine get "closer to victory" in the crisis and could and should ensure that this year, 2023, is a year of victory .

  "The U.S. decision to supply the M1 'Abrams' tank, which laid the groundwork for the Tank Union, is historic," Zelensky said.

"It's a clear signal that (Russia) has no chance of winning."

  However, according to Agence France-Presse, the accompanying US national security adviser Sullivan said that Biden had sent a reminder to Moscow "a few hours" before his visit to Kiev.

  "We did inform the Russians that President Biden was going to Kiev. We informed the Russians a few hours before the visit to avoid any conflict," Sullivan said in an interview.

"Due to the sensitivity of this information, I cannot gain insight into the (Russian) response or the exact nature of our information."

"This surprise visit is just a symbolic gesture"

  After a hasty meeting with Zelensky, Biden left Kiev.

  Russian Satellite News Agency reported that Vladimir Bachuk, director of the U.S. Regional Military Policy Center of the Institute of the United States and Canada of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said that Biden's visit to Kiev was just a symbolic gesture, which meant that the United States would further support Ukraine.

  Bachuk said, "Biden will not necessarily bring a tank or a plane as a gift. This is purely a symbolic gesture. The United States will always support Ukraine, and this line will not change."

  Bachuk also said, "There will be no more Russian-American relations, so this is unlikely to have any impact (on Russian-American relations)."

On February 20, 2023 local time, U.S. President Joe Biden (left) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a joint statement at the Mariinsky Palace.

  "I don't think the Russians will be surprised," Tatiana Stanovaya, founder of Russian political analysis firm r.politik, told the British newspaper The Guardian.

"For them, this will be yet another piece of evidence that Washington has clearly chosen its side... It's a testament to the total schism between the West and Russia."

  On the 21st, Russian President Vladimir Putin will deliver a State of the Union address. According to the analysis, Biden's visit to Kiev at this time may further escalate the situation in Russia and Ukraine.

“I expect Putin may be extremely tough on the West in his annual State of the Union address tomorrow,” Stanovaya said.

Japan suddenly announced "big money"

  According to a Kyodo News report on the 20th, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced at an international symposium held in Tokyo that he would provide Ukraine with new aid of 5.5 billion U.S. dollars (about 737 billion yen).

Data map: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

  However, according to data from the Kiel Institute for World Economics in Germany, from January to November 2022, including military, financial, and humanitarian fields, Japan’s aid to Ukraine will be 600 million euros, the least among the G7 countries.

This time, people close to Kishida explained the additional support costs: "Compared with other countries, this is a scale that will not be ashamed."

  According to Japan’s TBS TV station on the 20th, Kishida Fumio also said that the leaders of the Group of Seven will hold an online video conference on February 24, and Zelensky will also participate at that time.

(over)