On Feb. 20, President Joe Biden made an unannounced visit to Kyiv, Ukraine to discuss the war with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The visit comes almost exactly one year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last February.
It is great to see that Biden is taking a stand with Ukraine and The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) against Vladimir Putin. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has lasted over a year now, and Ukraine needs all the support possible.
Ukraine may seem far from Keene, but, as college students, we are all of military age, and a speech in Ukraine might one day prevent an invasion from happening in Keene. Biden announced a delivery of critical equipment to Ukraine. According to the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), This equipment includes artillery ammunition, anti-armor systems and air surveillance radars.
On Feb. 21, Biden met with leaders of nations in the NATO alliance in the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland.
Maureen Groppe from USA Today wrote, “Biden is ending his three-day trip to Ukraine and Poland Wednesday with a final emphasis on the strength of the NATO alliance, which has stood up to Putin.”
The war in Ukraine reveals Putin to be no better than any other tyrannical dictator who needs to be stopped. The invasion is unjust and it is great to see Biden speak out against Putin.
Biden delivered a 20-minute speech in Warsaw. According to the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), Biden said, “One year ago, the world was bracing for the fall of Kyiv. Well, I’ve just come from a visit to Kyiv and I can report, Kyiv stands strong. Kyiv stands proud. It stands tall. And most important, it stands free.”
Biden also said, “When President Putin ordered his tanks to roll into Ukraine, he thought we would roll over. He was wrong! The Ukrainian people are too brave. America, Europe, a coalition of nations from the Atlantic to the Pacific – we are too unified. Democracy was too strong. Instead of an easy victory he perceived and predicted, Putin left with burned-out tanks and Russian forces in disarray.”
Biden’s speech is fantastic. It is unifying to the commoners to stand in arms against a corrupt coward.
The Ukrainian people truly are brave and it is very pleasing to hear Biden mention it. The Russian oligarchs will not take Ukraine; the nation stands too strong.
Peter Nicholas from NBC wrote, “Ahead of the trip, the White House had said that Biden would make only one stop: Warsaw. But that turned out to be a ruse. Under extraordinary secrecy, Biden left the White House a day ahead of schedule, flew to Poland and arrived in Kyiv Monday morning after a 10-hour train ride. That he risked his own safety in visiting a war zone was itself a powerful statement that the administration’s alliance with Ukraine is enduring.”
I agree that it is a powerful statement. It says a lot that Biden would put himself in danger to meet with Zelenskyy. It is my hope that the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine, no matter what. An alliance that endures against tyranny is worth a lot. Ukraine will stand strong and the U.S. will stand with the powerful nation.
Nico Brazill can be contacted at
nbrazill@kscequinox.com
