Washington — First woman Dr. Jill Biden made a shock journey to Ukraine on Sunday, assembly with the primary woman of Ukraine Olena Zelenska and visiting with Ukrainian youngsters who’ve been displaced by the continuing struggle with Russia.
Biden, who launched into her journey to Jap Europe on Thursday, crossed the border from Slovakia into southwestern Ukraine on Sunday afternoon for the unannounced go to to a public college in Uzhhorod that was transformed into a short lived shelter, housing 163 Ukrainians, together with 47 youngsters. It was a uncommon go to by a U.S. first woman right into a struggle zone.
The primary woman was greeted by Zelenska, who has not been seen in public since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, based on a U.S. official. The official mentioned the 2 ladies have exchanged correspondence over the previous couple of weeks.
“I wished to come back on Mom’s Day,” Biden instructed reporters touring together with her. “We thought it was necessary to point out the Ukrainian those that this struggle has to cease, and this struggle has been brutal, and that the individuals of the USA stand with the individuals of Ukraine.”
Zelenska referred to as the go to by Biden a “very brave act.”
Susan Walsh / AP
“As a result of we perceive what it takes for the U.S. first woman to come back right here throughout a struggle when the navy actions are happening each day, the place the air sirens are taking place each day, even in the present day,” she mentioned. “All of us really feel your help and all of us really feel the management of the U.S. president, however we wish to notice that the Mom’s Day is a really symbolic day for us as a result of we additionally really feel your love and help throughout such an necessary day.”
Biden and Zelenska held a personal bilateral assembly for roughly half-hour, after which they met with Ukrainians who’ve been displaced from their properties and kids who have been making bears out of cardboard and tissue paper for his or her moms.
The primary woman returned to Slovakia after spending roughly two hours in Ukraine, and spoke with President Biden after the go to, based on Michael LaRosa, Biden’s press secretary.
LaRosa mentioned Ukraine’s ambassador to the USA, Oksana Markarova, gave Biden a letter from Zelenska on the State of the Union in March, and Ukraine’s first woman despatched one other letter final month expressing issues concerning the toll of the struggle on the psychological well being of youngsters, troops and households.
Biden joins a rising variety of high U.S. officers who’ve made secret visits to Ukraine in latest weeks. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin traveled to the capital city of Kyiv in April, and a delegation of Home Democrats led by Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a secret trip to the capital final week and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Mr. Biden has not traveled to Ukraine, although he visited Jap Europe in March.
Biden’s unannounced cease in Ukraine is the primary by the partner of a sitting president to a struggle zone since Laura Bush visited Afghanistan in 2008. The previous first woman additionally visited Afghanistan in 2005. Michelle Obama in 2015 traveled to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which has been designated a fight zone since 1991, to satisfy with troops.