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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 kids who’ve been displaced by the continued battle with Russia.
Biden, who launched into her journey to Japanese 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 brief shelter, housing 163 Ukrainians, together with 47 kids. It was a uncommon go to by a U.S. first woman right into a battle 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, in line with a U.S. official. The official stated the 2 girls have exchanged correspondence over the previous few weeks.
“I wished to return on Mom’s Day,” Biden instructed reporters touring along with her. “We thought it was vital to point out the Ukrainian those that this battle has to cease, and this battle has been brutal, and that the folks of the USA stand with the folks of Ukraine.”
Zelenska known as the go to by Biden a “very brave act.”
“As a result of we perceive what it takes for the U.S. first woman to return right here throughout a battle when the navy actions are happening daily, the place the air sirens are taking place daily, even at the moment,” she stated. “All of us really feel your help and all of us really feel the management of the U.S. president, however we want to word 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 vital day.”
Biden and Zelenska held a non-public bilateral assembly for roughly half-hour, after which they met with Ukrainians who’ve been displaced from their properties and youngsters who had 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, in line with Michael LaRosa, Biden’s press secretary.
LaRosa stated 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 considerations in regards to the toll of the battle on the psychological well being of kids, troops and households.
Biden joins a rising variety of high U.S. officers who’ve made secret visits to Ukraine in current weeks. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin traveled to the capital metropolis of Kyiv in April, and a delegation of Home Democrats led by Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a secret journey to the capital final week and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Mr. Biden has not traveled to Ukraine, although he visited Japanese Europe in March.
Biden’s unannounced cease in Ukraine is the primary by the partner of a sitting president to a battle 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 fulfill with troops.
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