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LAST UPDATE | 20 Feb 2023
US PRESIDENT JOE Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv this morning to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The visit by Biden came ahead of the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began on 24 February 2022.
In a statement this morning, Biden confirmed that he had arrived in Ukraine and he would “reaffirm our unwavering and unflagging commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity”.
“When Putin launched his invasion nearly one year ago, he thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. He thought he could outlast us. But he was dead wrong.”
“Putin’s war of conquest is failing”.
It was the first visit by a US president to Ukraine since 2008, and Biden’s overall eighth visit to the country.
As we approach the anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, I'm in Kyiv today to meet with President Zelenskyy and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 20, 2023
Biden confirmed that the US would be providing additional military support to Ukraine, including artillery ammunition, anti-armour systems and new air surveillance radar.
This additional military support is valued at approximately $500 million (€467 million).
He added that an additional package of sanctions against both “elites and companies” that are currently attempting to bypass existing sanctions will be rolled out.
Zelenskyy has welcomed the visit by Biden today, writing on Telegram that his visit is “an extremely important sign of support for all Ukrainians”.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine was “fighting for the liberties of the world”.
“This is an unequivocal signal that Russian attempts to win will have no chance,” said Zelenskyy, referring to Biden’s visit.
“Together we will protect our cities, our people from the terror of Russia.”
Biden told reporters that both the US and the world stands with Ukraine as the anniversary of the war approaches.
“One year later, Kyiv stands and Ukraine stands. Democracy stands,” Biden said.
The Americans stand with you and the world stands with you.
“We have every confidence that you’re going to continue to prevail.”
Biden’s visit comes days after a survey released by Rating Group found that 90% of Ukrainians have a positive attitude toward U.S. President Joe Biden and 92% of Ukrainians consider the U.S. friendly toward Ukraine.
There had been no prior indication that Biden was due to travel to Ukraine, but it follows a high-profile visit by Zelenskyy to the UK, France and Belgium earlier this month.
As we approach the anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, I'm in Kyiv today to meet with President Zelenskyy and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 20, 2023
However, photos and videos posted on social media in recent hours have shown the US President walking the streets of Kyiv with the Ukrainian President while air raid sirens ring out in the background.
Sky News have reported that Russia was made aware of Biden’s visit several hours before his arrival in order to discourage one of the occasional missile strikes that continue to hit Ukraine’s capital.
Earlier this morning, Biden and Zelenskyy visited St Michael’s Gold-Domed Cathedral, which has long been a symbol of Ukrainian resistance.
The leaders took part in a wreath laying at the Wall of Remembrance in the city, which honours Ukrainian soldiers who have died during the war.
Biden later visited the US embassy in Kyiv before leaving the capital, according to a White House pool report.
He is expected to arrive in Poland tomorrow where he is due to give a major speech in Warsaw – hours after a state of the nation address by Putin in Moscow that will be largely about the conflict in Ukraine.
Additional reporting by AFP and Jamie McCarron
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Brilliant. Now, when I fall asleep on the last Dart home, I will be woken up in Drogheda and not Malahide…
@Phil O’ Meara: I know of a man who intended to get off at Laytown and fell asleep and regularly ended up in Dundalk! But at least he was early enough to get a train back later!!
And while they’re at it, run a spur line from Skerries to the airport!
@Brian Hunt: extend the metro to donabate train station instead.
@Brian Hunt: Maybe Brian, we could move the Airport to Skerries for you!! Would you like that diddums ?
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: Meant to say Malahide!
We can extend the DART to Drogheda but not Dublin Airport – Only a few kms off the existing line – and instead have to spend billions on an unnecessary metro??
Madness!!!!
@Barry Sorensen: A monorail loop is the solution for that Barry. No tunnelling and can go along existing roads, well mostly!!
@Barry Sorensen: Metro is an absolute necessity, but we also need the DART to the airport. Having both would go a long way to easing pressure.
@Barry Sorensen: Don’t worry. “The Metro” is a fantasy and will never happen. Though greater Dublin as a city region of approximately 2 million should by now have about 3 metro lines like other cities of its size in more developed countries.
@Barry Sorensen: And where exactly would be the route from the present line to the Airport! How many houses etc would you have to buy etc!
Until there are more lines going into the city they are just tinkering around the edges. If they increase the DART frequency (which is planned) then there won’t be capacity for commuter/intercity trains which use the same lines.
@The next small thing: that’s exactly what I’m thinking! So we just switch from commuter to DART and our journey time is then EXTENDED..
@The next small thing: Seems to work jolly well for the South Soiders,
@The next small thing: it’s way more than tinkering at the edges. Whilst there are no extra lines, overall passenger capacity will increase significantly due to the electrification and other planned infrastructure upgrades. There will be one Belfast train per hour, which I think is what we currently have, so no adverse effect there
@Le Merchelant: Not really, 99% of the time from Malahide/Howth Jct the commuter train just crawls along behind a Dart all the way into the city centre so you shouldn’t notice much, if any, difference in journey time.
@SYaxJ2Ts: The overall numbers may increase but with DART’s running every 6 minutes then any intercity or commuter train will get delayed behind the DART. Unless the plan is to terminate the commuter trains at Greystones/howth junction and for passangers to change over to DART’s.
@Alim Seghu: Same issue on the south side line.
@The next small thing: you’re wrong. I suggest you read up on the project plan
@The next small thing: Its worse on the southside after Bray single track.
@The next small thing: Route planning and timing and train traffic control is something they have worked out in advance of anything else!
The Estate agents in Drogheda are only rubbing their hands together.
@Gav Murphy:
As are anyone in Drogheda that’s thinking of selling
What about ticket prices? The difference in price from Drogheda to the city and Balbriggan to the city are crazy. I also don’t understand why the train is cheaper after 10am, it should be the other way around to help those going to work, not punish them.
Didn’t our government pass an essential infrastructure bill many years ago to reduce these projects being delayed. They have never used it, so we waste vasts amounts of money at each stage. Someone is profiting but not the public. Only in Ireland would we cheer loudly for a plan being submitted not the projects completion.
Yep typical as usual build anything but the metro! Even get a spur line to the airport and sword to ease the daily traffic jam but no hope
@Alan Boyd: Where would you put this spur line to the airport, which would be two lines wide plus the essential space required. Have a go on Google maps and see how you do!
The airport needs to be connected in the baddest of ways. 32m passengers….all by road….ffs….
@Grant Masterson: it’s hilariously embarrassing, when taken in context with any other modern airport to a reasonably small city like Dublin. So hard to get to.
Pointless when the frequency is so low. Why don’t you put a dart every 5 minutes in each direction every day of the week ?
@Alex: Read the Dart + plan and then comment!
And South to Gorey..
@Gerry Dornan: Then it becomes the WART ( Wexford Area Rapid Transit)
The article says the trains will run on batteries from Malahide to Drogheda but the are also going to electrify that stret h of rail?
@Oh Mammy: Yes, the first of the battery trains will start coming in to the country next year. The overhead lines will take longer than that. So the batteries will be an interim solution until electrification is complete. Same cars will be used.
Throwing a few km of electricity poles on an existing train line and building no new stations…Irish Rail’s ambition knows no bounds. The Chinese must be in awe
@yourname: Unfortunately, like most infrastructure projects in this country you are depending on private sector contractors to complete the task for TFA, not Irish Rail.
@Fr. Fintan Stack: “NTA
@yourname: Irish Rail is opening new stations regularly! Pelletstown is one example and there are others going on the southside of Dart + as well. Extra stations in Cork as wellQ!
@Fr. Fintan Stack: Irish Rail have the knowledge and plans NTA provide the money! It is a Quango and not required!
Forget the dart and metro just build luas lines everywhere and connect them together
This only increases the need for Transport Police!
Malahide must be protected from the Wildlings to the North!
Intercity trains from all directions should terminate in Drogheda/Bray/nNewbridge with a Dart connection to the city…time to act on the wexford line urgently as it’s landlocked.
@Ben dover: So that is great people milling around stations trying to get connections!
Not one ‘I hear those things are awfully loud?’ comments. For shame.
Sure extend it to Dundalk, Delvin and anywhere else that starts with D.
have your say