US President Joe Biden, right, walks next to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as he arrives for a visit in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Monday, February 20.
In photos: Biden visits Ukraine and Poland
US President Joe Biden, right, walks next to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as he arrives for a visit in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Monday, February 20.
Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images

Updated 3:15 PM EST, Wed February 22, 2023

US President Joe Biden made a surprise trip to Kyiv, Ukraine, early Monday — his first trip to Ukraine since Russia's invasion began nearly one year ago.

During the highly secretive visit, he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and announced a half-billion dollars in new assistance, including more military equipment.

"One year later, Kyiv stands. And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands," Biden said.

His trip came ahead of a planned two-day visit to Poland. The President visited Warsaw on Tuesday and met with Polish President Andrzej Duda.

On Wednesday, Biden met with leaders of the nine countries that make up NATO's eastern flank. He said that democracy and freedom are at stake in helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia.

"You're the front lines of our collective defense, and you know better than anyone what's at stake in this conflict. Not just for Ukraine but for the freedom of democracies throughout Europe and around the world," Biden said at the top of the meeting.

Biden and Zelensky are seen in front of St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv.
Biden and Zelensky are seen in front of St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv.
Daniel Berehulak/The New York Times/Redux
Biden visits the Wall of Remembrance, a memorial in Kyiv for Ukrainian soldiers killed during Russia's war on Ukraine.
Biden visits the Wall of Remembrance, a memorial in Kyiv for Ukrainian soldiers killed during Russia's war on Ukraine.
Gleb Garanich/Reuters
Biden and Zelensky embrace after their visit to the Wall of Remembrance.
Biden and Zelensky embrace after their visit to the Wall of Remembrance.
Gleb Garanich/Reuters
Biden poses with Zelensky and Zelensky's wife, Olena, at the Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv.
Biden poses with Zelensky and Zelensky's wife, Olena, at the Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv.
Evan Vucci/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
Biden and Zelensky attend a news conference in Kyiv on Monday.
Biden and Zelensky attend a news conference in Kyiv on Monday.
Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images
Biden signs the guest book at the Ukrainian presidential palace.
Biden signs the guest book at the Ukrainian presidential palace.
Handout/Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/Getty Images
Biden meets with Zelensky at the Ukrainian presidential palace.
Biden meets with Zelensky at the Ukrainian presidential palace.
Handout/Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/Getty Images
Biden walks next to Zelensky after arriving in Kyiv.
Biden walks next to Zelensky after arriving in Kyiv.
Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images
After meeting with Zelensky, Biden walks down a train corridor to his cabin. He took a <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/20/politics/president-biden-kyiv-trip/index.html" target="_blank">nearly 10-hour train ride</a> from Poland into Kyiv.
After meeting with Zelensky, Biden walks down a train corridor to his cabin. He took a nearly 10-hour train ride from Poland into Kyiv.
Evan Vucci/Pool/Getty Images
Biden and Polish President Andrzej Duda gesture during a welcome ceremony outside the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, on Tuesday.
Biden and Polish President Andrzej Duda gesture during a welcome ceremony outside the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, on Tuesday.
David W Cerny/Reuters
Duda and Biden review a military honor guard at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw.
Duda and Biden review a military honor guard at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw.
Czarek Sokolowski/AP
Biden, fourth from left, takes part in a bilateral meeting with Duda, fourth from right, at the Presidential Palace.
Biden, fourth from left, takes part in a bilateral meeting with Duda, fourth from right, at the Presidential Palace.
Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
Biden walks out to deliver a speech in Warsaw on Tuesday. "One year ago, the world was bracing for the fall of Kyiv," he said. "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 walks out to deliver a speech in Warsaw on Tuesday. "One year ago, the world was bracing for the fall of Kyiv," he said. "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."
Evan Vucci/AP
Biden poses for a photo Wednesday with leaders of the nine countries that make up NATO's eastern flank. From left are Latvian President Egils Levits, Slovakian President Zuzana Čaputová, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Biden, Hungarian President Katalin Novák, Duda, Estonian President Alar Karis, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda.
Biden poses for a photo Wednesday with leaders of the nine countries that make up NATO's eastern flank. From left are Latvian President Egils Levits, Slovakian President Zuzana Čaputová, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Biden, Hungarian President Katalin Novák, Duda, Estonian President Alar Karis, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda.
Evan Vucci/AP
Biden and Duda talk during Wednesday's summit.
Biden and Duda talk during Wednesday's summit.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Biden boards Air Force One before leaving Poland.
Biden boards Air Force One before leaving Poland.
Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images