In this live blog you can read the most important developments regarding the war in Ukraine.
A recap of Biden’s surprise visit to Kyiv
Biden and Zelensky walking along the memorial wall in the center of Kyiv
President Biden pledges new military aid worth half a billion dollars
US President Biden plans to provide $500 million in new military aid to Ukraine. These include so-called Himars missile systems. That is what Biden promised Ukrainian President Zelensky in Kyiv. Biden is likely to officially announce the delivery tomorrow, during his visit to Poland tomorrow.
In a statement, Biden writes, “I will announce a new delivery of key equipment, including artillery ammunition, anti-armour systems and aerial surveillance radars to help protect the Ukrainian people from aerial bombardment”.
Zelensky calls Biden’s Kyiv visit ‘extremely important’
Ukrainian President Zelensky says the US President’s surprise visit to his country is extremely important for supporting Ukrainians. The two leaders spoke, among other things, about arms deliveries, the Reuters Zelensky news agency quotes. For example, Biden has promised the delivery of new Himars missile systems.
“Biden left last night and arrived in Kyiv by train”
A journalist from The Financial Times says President Biden left the US by plane last night and arrived in Kyiv by train this afternoon local time. It is not known where Biden landed with his plane.
First images of Biden in Kyiv
Air raid sirens sounded in Ukraine during Biden’s surprise visit
Air raid sirens went off this morning in Kiyiv and other parts of Ukraine. The alarm went off when US President Biden arrived in the capital for a surprise visit.
President Biden for the first time since war broke out in Kyiv
US President Biden is in Ukraine for the first time since the outbreak of war. He is in capital Kyiv for an unannounced visit. Officially, only a visit to Poland was on Biden’s program. He would land there tomorrow.
Several streets in the center of the Ukrainian capital were closed to traffic this morning, after which rumors of a possible visit from Biden grew stronger.
Hoekstra: years of war in Ukraine
The war in Ukraine will go on for a long time, says Foreign Minister Hoekstra in the AD. He says military aid to Ukraine must continue unabated. “You can’t stop supporting now, then everything will have been for nothing.”
According to Hoekstra, the war is less than halfway. “Look at history: the Soviet Union was at war in Afghanistan for nine years, the Russians have been out for decades for domination in Eastern Europe, and in 1940 and 1941 there was also the idea that World War II would soon be over.”
The minister warns of war fatigue. “It’s a litmus test of our credibility. This is seen in Moscow, Beijing and Tehran.”
Memorial week invasion of Ukraine started
Friday marks one year since Russia invaded Ukraine. This is being discussed in various places this week. For example, US President Biden will fly to Poland today to give a speech there tomorrow. He will not travel to Ukraine. Biden may discuss sending additional US troops to Poland with Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki.
The United Kingdom will hold a minute’s silence on Friday. Prime Minister Sunak will kick off the moment of silence. The British cabinet is calling on people and organizations to get involved.
The UN is voting this week on a draft resolution that emphasizes achieving “just and lasting peace”. The resolution demands that Moscow withdraw its troops and that hostilities cease. In addition to the vote, speeches are also held on the occasion of the year mark.
From today Ukrainian spelling for almost all place names
As of today, the NOS has switched to Ukrainian spelling of almost all Ukrainian place names. This means that we no longer write Kiev (a conversion from Russian), for example, but Kyiv (a conversion from Ukrainian). There are still a few exceptions. We explain how it all works here.
Weekend overview
Welcome to this live blog about the main developments surrounding the war in Ukraine. A quick look back at the main events of Saturday and Sunday:
- European Union foreign chief Josep Borrell has called for more ammunition to be delivered to Ukraine. Speaking at the Munich security conference, he said Ukrainian President Zelensky and the Ukrainians “get a lot of applause but not enough ammunition”. “That’s the paradox. There should be less applause and more guns.”
- US Secretary of State Blinken has warned China not to supply military equipment to Russia in the fight against Ukraine. Supporting the war will have serious consequences for US-China relations, Blinken told top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
- Minister Hoekstra announced on Saturday that the Netherlands will expel a number of Russian diplomats because Russia will not stop placing intelligence officers as diplomats. Russia also refuses to issue visas for Dutch diplomats for Saint Petersburg and the Dutch embassy in Moscow.
Read more? Here you will find the previous live blog.
