President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stroll in entrance of St. Michael’s cathedral in Kyiv forward of the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP through Getty Photos

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Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP through Getty Photos

President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stroll in entrance of St. Michael’s cathedral in Kyiv forward of the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP through Getty Photos

President Biden made an unannounced go to to Kyiv on Monday, an audacious and considerably dangerous journey aimed toward expressing solidarity with Ukrainians as Russia’s invasion of their nation heads right into a second 12 months.

Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and introduced a half a billion {dollars} of extra help to Ukraine — and mentioned there could be new sanctions on Russia — with particulars to be launched in coming days.

“One 12 months later, Kyiv stands. And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands,” Biden mentioned.

Biden’s go to comes as Russian forces make a brand new push to take management of Ukraine’s jap Donbas area, which Russia illegally annexed final September.

Biden had been slated to journey to Warsaw this week to mark the anniversary of the conflict and to carry a sequence of conferences with central European allies.

As a substitute, he secretly left Washington early on Sunday morning. Particulars of how he acquired to Ukraine weren’t instantly obtainable attributable to safety issues. Kyiv has been the goal of Russian missile and drone strikes, together with as lately as Feb. 10.

Solely three officers as effectively one reporter and one photographer traveled with Biden. A small group of reporters already inside Ukraine — together with NPR’s Joanna Kakissis — joined Biden after his arrival at 8 a.m. native time.

Zelenskyy referred to as it “an enormous second for Ukraine” and “a historic second for our nation.”

President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy converse collectively outdoors St. Michael’s cathedral in central Kyiv.

Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP through Getty Photos

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Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP through Getty Photos

President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy converse collectively outdoors St. Michael’s cathedral in central Kyiv.

Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP through Getty Photos

Biden met with Zelenskyy at Mariinsky Palace. Then, the 2 leaders walked collectively outdoors St. Michael’s cathedral in central Kyiv. Air raid sirens have been heard throughout the town as they left the church.

“I assumed it was vital that there not be any doubt, none in any way, about U.S. assist for Ukraine within the conflict,” Biden mentioned, emphasizing bipartisan assist in Congress for Ukraine.

Biden has marshalled worldwide assist for Ukraine, sending billions of {dollars} of weapons and financial assist to Kyiv and uniting allies and companions round financial sanctions meant to punish Moscow for the invasion.The U.S. Congress appropriated greater than $112 billion in protection, financial and humanitarian assist final 12 months.

However with no finish to the conflict in sight, polls present a rising variety of People are involved about how a lot cash has gone to the conflict — and a few Republican price range hawks have mentioned they want to curtail the spending.

It is a breaking information story. Will probably be up to date as extra particulars are made obtainable.