“Are you ready to go?”
Before boarding the presidential plane in Maryland, Biden publicly interacted with reporters, teasing whether any members of his administration were prepared to travel to Kiev.
The White House signaled that a decision would be made promptly. Reporters pressed for clarity on which officials might be eligible for such a mission.
In a light moment, Biden asked a reporter, “Are you ready to go?” A second journalist pressed, “And you?” The President answered with a simple, confident “Yes.”
Bloomberg released a briefing video that circulated on social media.
Possible Candidates
On the eve of a Politico report, unnamed U.S. officials were cited as discussing the possibility of sending a senior U.S. official to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. The official would likely hold a cabinet-level position and would coordinate with European leaders during a symbolic visit.
Officials noted that no final decision had been made, as discussions continued within the White House about potential candidates. Among the names mentioned were President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin as possible travelers to Kiev.
Recent trips by Biden and Harris to Poland—another frontline NATO member sharing a border with Ukraine—were cited as context. If a visit were to occur, officials suggested it would be kept confidential for security reasons, and some sources indicated the trip might not happen given the war’s volatility.
The journey would carry symbolic weight for Washington and Kyiv, reaffirming U.S. commitment to Ukraine’s resistance to Russian occupation and marking the arrival of a senior U.S. figure in Kyiv just weeks after Ukrainian forces repelled Russian troops.
Additionally, the administration had authorized an extra $800 million in military aid, lifting total U.S. aid to Ukraine beyond $3 billion.
a series of meetings
Politico also pointed out that the U.S. visit to Kyiv would cap a sequence of engagements between top Western leaders and President Zelensky. Recent gatherings included Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, the EU’s top diplomat, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and national leaders from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland.
Von der Leyen and Borrell arrived in Ukraine on the night of April 8. The European Commission president described a survey that, if completed, could prompt the European Council to begin negotiating Ukraine’s EU accession. She pledged to expedite the process, stating that progress could be measured in weeks rather than years.
Johnson visited Ukraine on April 9, discussing extra financial and military support for Kyiv. He remarked on the opportunity to visit Zelensky and reaffirm UK solidarity in Ukraine’s ongoing struggle. Johnson also announced additional military assistance, including armored vehicles and anti-ship systems.
Polish President Andrzej Duda, alongside Baltic and other leaders, met Zelensky on April 13. Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt indicated that Scandinavian colleagues were considering a visit to Kyiv to meet Zelensky. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier had planned a trip, though Kyiv had not extended an invitation. Zelensky’s office signaled that Berlin’s decisions on oil embargoes and military support would influence future cooperation.
As diplomacy unfolds, an official from Kyiv emphasized that invitations matter. Visitation etiquette remains a factor, with officials noting that invitations are customary and that visits should yield tangible results—whether in heavy weapons, financial aid, or Ukraine’s path toward European Union membership. The deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential office highlighted the potential value of a German Chancellor’s visit in advancing these objectives.
Overall, the evolving posture reflects ongoing support for Ukraine and a willingness to coordinate high-level diplomacy with European allies, all framed around practical outcomes and security considerations.