While we sit peacefully in our classes, Ukrainian students, just like us, are under constant fear and threat of bombing. Save the Children reports that from the time Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022 until June of 2022, “At least 1,888 schools [had] been damaged and destroyed by shelling and bombing.” This has severely affected and disrupted the education of millions of students in Ukraine.

Just four days before the one-year mark of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, President Biden made the trek to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Claiming that, “Kyiv has captured a part of my heart,” Biden solidified the American alliance with Ukraine. 

This was the first visit to Ukraine made by a sitting United States president since the George W. Bush administration. Although this meeting was a complete surprise to American and Ukrainian citizens, this was an event that was months in the making. Biden departed early the morning of February 19, from Andrews Air Force Base, beginning the nearly 20-hour journey. 

NBC News reports that after arriving at his destination Biden stopped at the Mariinsky Palace, where he signed a guest book and made a public address. He then visited the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, before making his way back to Poland. 

Reiterating the American alliance with Ukraine was not the only intention Biden had with his visit. He also hoped to solidify the Western alliance against Russia with other European leaders. President Biden also announced that he would be providing financial and military aid to Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal says, “While in Kyiv, Mr. Biden announced $460 million of additional military aid to Ukraine — Washington’s 32nd such package—including a range of munitions, Javelin anti-armor systems, infantry-support vehicles, communication equipment, and medical supplies.”

Although we were all caught off guard by this visit, and many Americans believed that President Biden had more pressing issues within the States to address, this visit was important and was not without purpose. 

In his address to both Ukraine and America, the president stated, “You know, one year later, Kyiv stands and Ukraine stands.  Democracy stands. The Americans stand with you, and the world stands with you.”