Part of Russia-Ukraine War, International presidential trips made by Joe Biden | |
![]() President Biden and President Zelenskyy, February 20, 2023 | |
Date | February 20, 2023 |
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Location | Kyiv, Ukraine |
On February 20, 2023, the president of the United States, Joe Biden, made a visit to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, his first since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[1][2] Out of security concerns, his travel plans had not been made public prior to his arrival, and only two journalists accompanied him, having been sworn to secrecy three days earlier.[3][4]
The visit took place on the day Ukraine observes the Heavenly Hundred, on the eve of a scheduled major speech by Russian President Vladimir Putin and four days ahead of the 1-year anniversary of the full-scale invasion. The trip lasted a total of 24 hours, the majority of which were taken by the long train rides. During the five hours of meetings in Kyiv, Biden announced another $500 million in military assistance to Ukraine.
Biden's visit received a mixed reaction in the United States, split primarily along political party lines.[5][6][7] It was the first time in modern history that a sitting U.S. President has traveled to an active conflict zone not controlled by the American military, and was the closest a president had come to a combat zone since Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War.[3] The Pentagon and the Secret Service opposed the visit to Kyiv.
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