“Are you ready to go?”
Before boarding the presidential plane in Maryland, Biden traditionally spoke briefly to reporters asking if he was ready to send any of his administration to Kiev.
The owner of the White House said the decision on the matter would be made “now”. But journalists asked them to clarify who could qualify for such a role.
“Are you ready to go?” Biden jokingly asked a reporter. Another reporter detailed: “And you?” The President replied: “Yes.”
Bloomberg briefing video published on your YouTube.
Possible Candidates
On the eve of the Politico publication, he referred to unnamed US officials reportedThe United States is considering sending a senior official to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev.
The US official, who is likely to become a cabinet minister, will follow up with European leaders who make a symbolic visit.
It was noted that a possible visit decision has not been taken yet, as the White House continues to discuss possible candidates. Among them are President Joe Biden and US Vice President Kamala Harris. Also, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken or Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin may go to Kiev.
Biden, like Harris, recently traveled to Poland, “a NATO front-line country bordering Ukraine.” The article also states that if the administration decides to send someone to Kiev, it will not be announced in advance for security reasons. Broadcast sources added that the visit may not take place at all due to the unstable nature of the war.
The trip will be very symbolic for both Washington and Kyiv. The United States will reaffirm its commitment to Ukraine’s resistance to the Russian occupation and will be able to host a senior US official in the capital just weeks after Ukraine forced the withdrawal of Russian troops.
Additionally, the visit comes after Biden authorized an additional $800 million in military aid, raising total US aid to Ukraine to over $3 billion.
a series of meetings
Politico also noted that the US official visiting Kiev will be the last in a series of talks between top Western politicians and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the head of EU diplomacy Josep Borrell, the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the leaders of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland recently met with the Ukrainian leader.
Ursula von der Leyen and Josep Borrell arrived in Ukraine on the night of 8 April. The head of the European Commission gave Zelensky a survey, which, if completed, would allow the European Commission to recommend to the European Council to start discussing the opening of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU. The EC president also promised to “help fill this in weeks, not years”.
The British prime minister arrived in Ukraine on 9 April. He discussed with Zelensky the issue of providing additional financial and military assistance to Ukraine.
“It is a great honor for me to have the opportunity today to travel to Ukraine and meet personally with President Zelensky in Kiev. <…> I made it clear today that the UK supports them (Ukrainians – socialbites.ca) without hesitation in this ongoing struggle.”
Boris Johnson also said that the UK will provide additional military assistance to Ukraine in the form of 120 armored vehicles and anti-ship systems.
Polish President Andrzej Duda, along with the Presidents of Latvia, Egils Levits, Lithuania, Gitanas Nauseda and Estonia, met with the leader of Ukraine on Wednesday, April 13.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said in early April that she and other Scandinavian foreign ministers were also considering visiting Kiev to meet with Zelensky.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also planned to visit Kiev, but the Ukrainian side did not invite him. Zelensky’s office announced that concrete decisions are expected from Berlin on the embargo on oil supplies from the Russian Federation, as well as on the provision of military and economic assistance to Ukraine.
“There is a rule in diplomacy: if the head of state wants to visit another country, he must receive an invitation from the leadership of this country, the president of the country. As if you are visiting your neighbor or friend – you need to get an invitation. Of course, you can come uninvited, but this is not very polite. And then – all our visits today end with a result, each visit should bring a result. That’s why we would love for high-ranking politicians to “bring” the result, for example, of an oil embargo or the like if they come to Ukraine – heavy weapons, light weapons that Germany already provides, or Germany, for example, guarantees Ukraine’s admission to the EU … the country support for its reconstruction, ”said Igor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office on the broadcast of the Welt TV channel.
He added that the country would still be happy with the visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.