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Zelensky, Biden hold closed-door meeting

The US President said that his visit was an important sign of support

US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP

US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky

© Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP

KIEV, February 20. /TASS/. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and his US counterpart Joe Biden held a closed-door meeting at the Mariinsky Palace in downtown Kiev, the press service of the Ukrainian head of state said on Monday.

Before the meeting, Zelensky noted that he intended to discuss the situation at the line of engagement with Biden. In turn, Biden said that his visit was an important sign of support.

Earlier on Monday, Ukrainian news outlets reported that downtown Kiev was blocked off which triggered major traffic jams. Various suggestions were voiced over the blocking, including the possibility of Biden’s arrival. However, his visit was unannounced. Also today, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba refused to come to Brussels for a meeting of EU top diplomats where the EU’s military aid to Kiev was supposed to be discussed.

Later, the Ukrainian news outlets published a video with Biden and Zelensky on a square near the Mikhailovsky cathedral which belongs to the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). Then Zelensky himself published a photo with Biden who, on the occasion of his visit, wore a tie the colors of the Ukrainian flag.

It was noted that this was Biden’s first visit to Ukraine since he was elected president. On December 21, 2022, Zelensky visited Washington at Biden’s invitation which was his first foreign trip following the onset of the special military operation.

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