Biden's visit to Ukraine kept secret for 24 hours

CNN reported that Air Force One carrying President Joe Biden took off from Andrews base overnight. Reporters on board were not allowed to bring personal equipment.

Biden’s public schedule has not mentioned a visit to Ukraine, and White House officials said last week that the trip was not on the table.

President Joe Biden makes surprise visit to Kiev. Photo: Anadolu

On the evening of February 19, before his departure, Mr. Biden had dinner with the First Lady in Washington. After that, he did not appear before the media until arriving in Kiev this morning.

Ukraine is a war zone where the US military has no control, making President Biden’s visit to Kiev very different from his previous trips to Iraq or Afghanistan. Earlier this year, White House officials also repeatedly ruled out the possibility of Biden visiting Kiev.

The members accompanying Mr. Biden this time are just a small group including National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jen O'Malley Dillon and Personal Assistant Annie Tomasini.

President Zelensky first invited Biden to visit Kiev a year ago, when Russian forces were massing on the border. Last week, Zelensky said the invitation to Biden remained open.

Mr Biden visited Ukraine several times as US Vice President. His most recent visit to Kiev was in January 2017.

Meanwhile, Sergei Markov, a former spokesman for the Russian President, said Moscow had pledged to ensure Biden's safety during his trip to the Ukrainian capital.

“Joe Biden arrived in Kiev with security assurances from Vladimir Putin that there would be no missile and aircraft attacks during his visit,” Markov told Al Jazeera.

Mr. Markov added that the timing of the visit was important, as it came before President Putin was due to give a national address, and before the one-year anniversary of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine.

According to Mr. Markov, President Biden has gained many benefits from the visit, especially in terms of domestic politics.

Visiting Kiev, US President Joe Biden mentioned a half-billion-dollar military aid package for Ukraine, and new sanctions against Russia.