Biden and Zelensky left a Kyiv church together just before air raid sirens sounded
CNN’s Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward described what she saw as US President Joe Biden met with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv earlier on Monday.
The pair arrived outside the city’s St. Michael’s Church, Ward told CNN's Max Foster and Bianca Nobilo, entering the building from behind before leaving about five minutes later just before air sirens began to wail.
The two leaders then walked out of the church together, following two soldiers who were carrying wreaths to a wall of the fallen, commemorating those who have lost their lives in combat.
Ward went on to say the two leaders stayed there for a moment to pay their respects before embracing each other, showing the “rapport” the leaders have, she said.
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"It's amazing to see you," Biden told Zelensky as he arrived for historic visit
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
Sitting for talks with President Volodomyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Monday, Joe Biden laid out his rationale for visiting the Ukrainian capital as the war enters a second year.
“I thought it was critical that there not be any doubt, none whatsoever, about US support for Ukraine in the war,” the US President said. “The Ukrainian people have stepped up in a way that few people ever have in the past."
Biden emphasized there was broad, bipartisan support in Washington for the Ukrainian cause, even as some Republicans balk at providing further assistance.
“For all the disagreement we have in our Congress on some issues, there is significant agreement on support for Ukraine,” he said.“It’s not just about freedom in Ukraine … It’s about freedom of democracy at large," he said.
Biden arrived in Kyiv at 8 a.m. local time (1:00 a.m. ET), according to reporters traveling with him inside Ukraine.
“It’s good to be back in Kyiv,” Biden said when he arrived. He was greeted by the US Ambassador to UkraineBridget Brink.
Biden's motorcade arrived to theMariinsky Palace just after 8:30 a.m. local time (1:30 a.m.ET). Hewas greeted at the entrance by Zelensky and his wife, Olena Zelenska.
“Thank you for coming,” Zelensky said shaking Biden’s hand.“More importantly, how are the children?” Biden asked, while adding: “It’s amazing to see you.”
Asked about the significance of being in Kyiv, Biden noted it was his eighth visit to the city. “Each time more significant,” Biden said.
He added that the purpose of his visit was to convey to Zelensky that the US is “here to stay.”“We’re not leaving,” Biden said.
Biden’s visit to Ukraine follows in the footsteps of other world leaders
US President Joe Biden has been itching to visitUkrainefor months, particularly after several of his counterparts in Europe all made lengthy train journeys to meet with Zelensky in Kyiv.
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as well as former British leader Boris Johnson, have all made visits to the country to demonstrate their support.
Several of Biden’s top lieutenants, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, have also visited the Ukrainian capital to pledge new assistance. Senior administration officials, including CIA Director Bill Burns and top White House officials, visited Kyiv last month.
Biden’s wife, Dr. Jill Biden, paid her own surprise visit on Mother’s Day last year to a small city in the far southwestern corner of*ckraine. She met with Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska at a former school that was converted into temporary housing for displaced Ukrainians, including 48 children.
Yet security precautions had prevented Biden from making a similar trip. When he visited Poland in April last year, the White House did not even explore the potential for a trip across the border, even though Biden said he had voiced interest.
“They will not let me — understandably, I guess — cross the border and take a look at what’s going on inUkraine,” he said at the time.
Biden announces new sanctions on Russia and says Putin "was dead wrong"
US President Joe Biden has said he visited Kyiv to reaffirm the United States' "unwavering" support for Ukraine, announcing new military aid and a fresh swath of sanctions on the historic trip.
"As the world prepares to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, I am in Kyiv today to meet with President Zelenskyy and reaffirm our unwavering and unflagging commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity," Biden said in a statement released by the White House.
"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.
The President confirmed another donation of US military equipment, and said that later this week his government "would announce additional sanctions against elites and companies that are trying to evade or backfill Russia’s war machine."
Biden is set to visit Poland later this week as he marks the anniversary of Russia's invasion.
Biden announces half-billion dollars in assistance to Ukraine on surprise trip
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
President Joe Biden announced a half-billion dollars of additional assistance to Ukraine during a surprise visit to Ukraine on Monday.
Biden, in joint remarks alongside Ukrainian President Zelensky, said the package wouldinclude more military equipment, including artillery ammunition, more javelins and Howitzers.
Zelensky said he and Biden spoke about “long range weapons and the weapons that may still be supplied to Ukraine even though it wasn’t supplied before.”
In remarks, Biden spoke about theresilience of the Ukrainian resistance as the war enters its second year.
One year later, Kyiv stands. And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands,” Biden said.
Biden met with Zelensky, as well as first lady Olena Zelenska, at Kyiv's presidential palace on Monday.
The historic visit comes just days before the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of the country.
Biden’s Ukraine trip comes after multiple invitations from Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky invited US President Joe Biden to visit Kyiv months ago, saying he believed it was important for the US leader to see the situation up close.
As recently as last week, Zelensky said his invitation for Biden to visitUkraineremained open.
"President Biden and I meet occasionally. You know that we have invited the President. I think he will be happy to visitUkraineif he has the opportunity. That would be an important signal to support our nation,” Zelensky said on February 15.
Zelensky traveled to Washington in December to meet Biden in the Oval Office and speak toa jointsession of Congress—his first trip outsideUkrainesince the war began.
BREAKING: President Biden makes surprise first visit to Ukraine since Russian invasion began
US President Joe Biden has made a surprise visit to Ukraine early Monday — his first trip to the country since Russia’s invasion began nearly one year ago.
Biden's trip is a show of support for Kyiv that comes at a critical moment in the conflict, as Russia prepares for an expected spring offensive.
Air raid sirens sound in Kyiv and around Ukraine
From CNN’s Vasco Cotovio in London
Air raid sirens were activated across Ukraine on Monday morning, including in the capital Kyiv, the country’s authorities and CNN teams on the ground reported.
“Please proceed to the shelters!” authorities in Kyiv said in their official Telegram channel.
China says US "is not qualified to lecture" on supplying arms to Russia
From CNN's Beijing bureau
China's Foreign Ministry on Monday said the United States "is not qualified to lecture" on the supplying of arms amid concerns from US officials that Beijing is considering providing "lethal support" to Russia's military.
Speaking to reporters, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said: "It is the US side, not the Chinese side, that supplies a steady stream of weapons to the battlefield."
"The US side is not qualified to lecture China, and we would never accept the US dictating or even coercing pressure on Sino-Russian relations," he said.
"Who is calling for dialogue and peace and who is handing out knives and encouraging confrontation?"
Wang added that China continues to "urge peace and promote talks" to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and that it stands firmly on "playing a constructive role in promoting the de-escalation and cooling down the situation."
Some context: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday he has concerns that Beijing is considering stepping up its partnership with Moscow by supplying Russia's military with “lethal support.” Blinken raised the issue when he met with China's top diplomat Wang Yi on Saturday, officials said.
CNN previously reported that the US has begun seeing “disturbing” trendlines of late in China’s support for Russia’s military, and there are signs that Beijing wants to “creep up to the line” of providing lethal military aid to Russia without getting caught, according to US officials familiar with the intelligence.
The officials would not describe in detail what intelligence the US has seen suggesting a recent shift in China’s posture but said US officials have been concerned enough that they shared the intelligence with allies and partners.
