2023 visit by Joe Biden to 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. 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.
| Part of Russia-Ukraine War, International presidential trips made by Joe Biden | |
President Biden and President Zelenskyy, February 20, 2023 | |
| Date | February 20, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Location | Kyiv, Ukraine |
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. 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. The Pentagon and the Secret Service opposed the visit to Kyiv.