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Biden bolsters Ukraine

US President Joe Biden made an unscheduled (though unsurprising) half-day visit to Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, to underscore continued US resolve in supporting Ukraine as the war approaches its first anniversary.

The optics of the visit were important: Biden and Zelensky standing side by side in Kyiv, with Biden promising to support Ukraine’s war effort “for as long as it takes”.

Biden promised $500 million in additional military aid to Ukraine, but made no announcements on the release of further advanced weaponry being sought by Ukraine. The United States has provided a staggering $28 billion USD in military assistance to Ukraine to date.

Biden followed up with a punchy speech in Warsaw, declaring “Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia” and promising more sanctions against Russia. And in another warning to Putin, after he met the nine leaders from NATO’s Eastern European members, Biden declared that America would defend “every inch” of NATO.

Though there are some in Democratic foreign policy circles who would like to see a negotiated end to the Ukraine conflict, and are prepared to contemplate compromising Ukraine’s interests to achieve this, Biden does not seem to have much stomach for this view (which in any respect would be a difficult sell domestically).

Biden’s visit and full-throated support puts him all in for Zelensky.

(Credit: Daniel Berehulak/The New York Times)

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