LVIV, Ukraine — President Biden’s surprise visit to Kyiv Monday morning sends an unmistakable message to Russian President Vladimir Putin: Almost one year into his brutal invasion of Ukraine, the US resolve is not wavering and that America’s commitment to safeguarding democracy will not fade. Biden arrived in the Ukrainian capital at 8:00 a.m. local time after taking a 10-hour train journey from Poland. Air raid sirens wailed throughout the city shortly after his arrival. He met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Mariinsky Palace, and the two leaders walked together to St. Michael’s Cathedral.
The symbolism of Biden’s trip is enormous. For months, it seemed unlikely that top US officials would visit Kyiv, because of serious security concerns and the logistical difficulties of extracting them in case of an emergency. But the Biden administration, after months of deliberation, decided that the risk was worth taking.
Biden’s message was consistent with his statements since the beginning of the war. He pledged that the United States would continue to support Ukraine for .
