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Biden, in Kyiv ahead of war anniversary, vows support as long as needed
![Biden, in Kyiv ahead of war anniversary, vows support as long as needed]()
Joe Biden has arrived in the Ukrainian Biden, in Kyiv ahead of war anniversary, vows support as long as needed
Joe Biden has arrived in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, defying threats of Russian missile attacks, to announce significant additional US weapons supplies, as Ukraine prepares to mark the sombre anniversary of last year’s full-scale Russian invasion.
U.S. President Joe Biden made an unannounced visit to Kyiv on Monday, promising President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that Washington would stand with Ukraine as long as it takes, in a strong show of support ahead of the war's one-year anniversary.
Sirens blared across the Ukrainian capital as he was there, though there were no reports of Russian missile or air strikes.
"When Putin launched his invasion nearly one year ago, he thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. He thought he could outlast us. But he was dead wrong," Biden said, praising Ukrainians for their bravery in resisting Russia's invasion.
"The cost that Ukraine has had to pay is extraordinarily high. Sacrifices have been far too great ... We know that there will be difficult days and weeks and years ahead."
The U.S. president promised a further $500 million worth of weaponry, including artillery ammunition, anti-armour systems and air defence radars, plus tighter sanctions on Russia.
Zelenskiy told Biden his visit was "an extremely important sign of support for all Ukrainians."
