President Joe Biden paid a surprise visit to Kyiv, Ukraine. This is the first visit he has made to the embattled country since its attack almost a year ago by Putin’s Russian forces. The importance of his visit has highlighted the sounds of air raid sirens as Biden walked with Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky in this active war zone where the United States has no military jurisdiction. 

Zelensky had spoken to the United States Congress in December asking for aid, and, with signs indicating Russian forces will launch an even stronger offense in the next few weeks, President Biden has offered a half-billion dollars to prepare for this latest attack.  The United States is part of a group of other Western nations that have provided arms, ammunition, and tanks to Ukraine since the war began.

Just as importantly, he signaled his commitment to Ukraine while, standing next to Zelenksy, he gave a passionate speech where he declared, “One year later, Kyiv stands. And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands.” He said, Putin’s “war of conquest is failing… Putin thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided…He thought he could outlast. I don’t think he’s thinking that right now.” However, it is unclear what conditions Zelenksy would find acceptable to broker a peace deal, and the United States government has stated they will not influence his negotiations or terms. 

Biden emphasized that both Democratic and Republican congressional members supported the Ukranians, and the United States giving aid, because, “it’s not just about freedom in Ukraine. … It’s about freedom of democracy at large,” he said. Biden will next to travel to Poland, which borders Ukraine. “I think it’s very important that both parties in the U.S. are understanding the magnitude of the Ukraine situation and how we have to help them,” Anjani Bodar (11) says. The issue of humanitarian rights and aiding the basic needs of those in Ukraine is very important, and the first step is ending the fighting itself by helping Ukraine militarily.