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US president makes surprise visit to Kiev, pledges $500mn in new military aid

US President Joe Biden meets with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Ukrainian Presidential Palace, Kiev, Ukraine, on February 20.

US President Joe Biden has made an unannounced visit to Kiev on Monday and pledged a military aid package worth $500 million, almost a year into the Russia-Ukraine war.

Biden’s clandestine journey to the Ukrainian capital comes as the US president is also set to visit Poland.

The United States, by far the largest supplier of military assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s special military operation last February, also announced an additional aid package $500 which will include more military equipment and weapons like anti-tank Javelin missiles.

During the visit Biden vowed that Washington would stand with Ukraine as long as it takes.

Russia has repeatedly announced that the US and its allies’ support and arm deliveries to Ukraine would only prolong the conflict.

“For all the disagreement we have in our Congress on some issues, there is significant agreement on support for Ukraine,” Biden said.

Zelenskiy told Biden his visit was "an extremely important sign of support for all Ukrainians."

Air raid sirens sounded while Biden was on the ground.

On Saturday, US Vice President Kamala Harris speaking at the annual Munich Security Conference accused Russia of committing crimes against humanity during its nearly year-long ‘military operation’ against Ukraine and vowed that it will be held accountable for its actions.

Russia’s ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said in a statement On Sunday that Washington is plotting to demonize Moscow and foment the crisis in Ukraine with allegations of crimes against humanity.

“We regard such insinuations as an unprecedented attempt to demonize Russia in the framework of the hybrid war unleashed against us,” he said.

Bloomberg News reported on Sunday that the new sanctions will target Russia's defense and energy sectors, financial institutions and a number of individuals.

Moscow says the operation aims to stop Kiev's persecution of the pro-Russian population in eastern Ukraine and also serves to "de-Nazify" the ex-Soviet republic.


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