President Biden makes a surprise visit to Kyiv, Ukraine, meets with President Zelensky

President Biden arrived in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early Monday for a surprise visit ahead of the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the country.

Biden gave a speech and met with Zelensky at the Mariinsky Palace to announce an additional half a billion dollars in US aid. The new aid includes howitzer shells, anti-tank missiles, air surveillance radars and other aid, but not new advanced weaponry.

This is Biden’s first trip to Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion a year ago.

Biden was expected to visit Poland on Monday to commemorate the anniversary of the start of the war, but instead took a nearly 10-hour train ride from the Polish border to visit the Ukrainian capital.

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Biden said he visited Ukraine to meet with Zelensky and “reaffirm our unwavering and unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

He noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin was “totally wrong” in believing that Ukraine was weak when he launched his invasion a year ago.

“I am meeting with President Zelensky and his team for an expanded discussion of our support for Ukraine,” Biden said. “I will announce another delivery of critical equipment, including artillery ammunition, anti-tank systems and air surveillance radars, to help protect the Ukrainian people from aerial bombardment. And I will share that later this week we will announce additional sanctions against elites and companies that try to evade or engage the Russian military machine.”

President Joe Biden (center) shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) as they pose with Olena Zelenskaya (left), wife of President Zelensky, at the Mariinsky Palace during an unannounced visit to Kiev, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, swimming pool)

“Over the past year, the United States has built a coalition of nations from the Atlantic to the Pacific to help defend Ukraine with unprecedented military, economic, and humanitarian support, and that support will continue,” he continued.

Biden also said he looks forward to meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda and the leaders of our allies on the eastern flank as the US looks to continue to rally the world in support of Ukraine. He took off from the Ukrainian capital in the afternoon local time, spending about 5 hours in the city.

Sirens blared in war-torn Ukraine as Biden arrived. The United States has already provided Ukraine with tens of billions of dollars of financial assistance and military equipment.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also announced $5.5 billion in aid to Ukraine when Biden visited Zelensky.

Biden’s visit comes just before Russia is expected to step up its offensive again in its own recognition of the anniversary of the conflict. Ukrainian officials have warned of a massive rocket attack that Russia could launch on Friday, February 24.

President Joe Biden (center) poses with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) and Olena Zelenskaya (left), wife of President Zelensky, at the Mariinsky Palace during an unannounced visit. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, swimming pool)

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Russia continued to advance despite Western sanctions and losses on the battlefield. Ukraine has received a wave of support mainly from Western countries supporting its defense against Moscow’s invasion.

A number of US lawmakers have said support for Ukraine should be a top priority, but some have criticized decisions to continue bailouts without proper oversight. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Ukraine shouldn’t get carte blanche, but the Biden administration has pledged to support Zelenskiy’s regime “for as long as it takes.”

This is breaking news. Check back for more details. The Associated Press contributed to this report.