January 1, Biden meets Ukraine leader, pledges to help amid ‘Russian aggression’

President Joe Biden hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a long-saught after meeting in the Oval Office. It marked Biden’s first meeting with a foreign leader since ending the war in Afghanistan.

The subject of Afghanistan was not broached during their brief appearance before cameras, but Biden did mention his concerns with “Russian aggression.”

“The United States remains firmly committed to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russian aggression and for Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” Biden said.

The meeting with Zelenskyy was postponed for two days while the Biden administration focused on finalizing the military withdrawal from Afghanistan. The weight of the situation was not lost on Ukraine’s leader, who thanked Biden for making the time.

Ahead of the meeting, the White House said it was sending $60 million to Ukraine in military aid because of a “major increase in Russian military activity along its border.”

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Biden meets Ukraine leader in long-sought Oval Office visit