Ukraine-Russia news – live: Biden makes surprise visit to Kyiv ahead of war anniversary

The Independent’s White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg reports:

Volodymyr Zelensky and Joe Biden were ushered to a meeting for a restricted bilateral meeting.

Mr Zelensky spoke first: “Today we host president Biden. Thank you so much for coming Mr President at a huge moment for Ukraine.”

The Ukrainian leader also thanked “American society”, who he said from the beginning “have been together” with his war-torn nation.

“Thank you for your leadership,” he said to Mr Biden. “All the thanks to Congress.” Mr Zelensky said he looked forward to discussing “the situation on the battlefield” with Mr Biden

“But we will also speak about the people, about Ukranians, about Americans … what we have to do to stop the war, to have success in this war …and how to win this year.”

“As the world prepares to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, I am in Kyiv today to meet with President Zelensky and reaffirm our unwavering and unflagging commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

“When Putin launched his invasion nearly one year ago, he thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. He thought he could outlast us. But he was dead wrong.

“Today, in Kyiv, I am meeting with President Zelensky and his team for an extended discussion on our support for Ukraine. I will announce another delivery of critical equipment, including artillery ammunition, anti-armor systems, and air surveillance radars to help protect the Ukrainian people from aerial bombardments. And I will share that later this week, we will announce additional sanctions against elites and companies that are trying to evade or backfill Russia’s war machine. Over the last year, the United States has built a coalition of nations from the Atlantic to the Pacific to help defend Ukraine with unprecedented military, economic, and humanitarian support – and that support will endure.

“I also look forward to traveling on to Poland to meet President Duda and the leaders of our Eastern Flank Allies, as well as deliver remarks on how the United States will continue to rally the world to support the people of Ukraine and the core values of human rights and dignity in the UN Charter that unite us worldwide.

US president Joe Biden and Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky walk next to Saint Michael’s cathedral, Kyiv, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

Our US team have more on president Joe Biden’s surprise arrival in Kyiv…

Joe Biden arrived in Kyiv at 8am local time, donning a blue suit with a blue and yellow striped tie.

“It’s good to be back in Kyiv,” Mr Biden declared as he was greeted upon arrival by ambassador Bridget Brink.

The presidential motorcade arrived at Mariinsky Palace just after 8.30am, where he was greeted at the entrance outside by Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife, Olena Zelenska.

Mr Zelensky was dressed in his signature black sweatshirt with dark green pants and beige boots.

“Thank you for coming,” Mr Zelensky said as he shook Mr Biden’s hand.

“More importantly, how are the children?” Mr Biden asked, adding: “It’s amazing to see you.”

US president Joe Biden has arrived in Kyiv for his first visit to the embattled country since Russia invaded almost one year ago.

The surprise visit comes after he travelled to Poland to meet president Andrzej Duda.

Ukrainian authorities issued an air-raid alert across the entire country on Monday.

Officials in the capital Kyiv have warned in recent days of a heightened risk of attacks by Russia as the anniversary of its invasion of Ukraine last year approaches.

There were no immediate reports of new missile or drone strikes.

The United States is in no position to make demands, China has said after the top US diplomat warned his Beijing counterpart over the weekend against providing weapons to Russia in its war in Ukraine.

“The United States is in no position to make demands of China,” foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a regular daily briefing in Beijing, when asked about secretary of state Antony Blinken’s comments.

“China’s comprehensive collaborative partnership with Russia is based on the basis of non-alignment, non-confrontation and non-targeting of third parties, and is a matter within the sovereignty of two independent countries,” Wang Wenbin said.

He was referring to the “no limits” partnership struck just over a year ago between Beijing and Moscow, weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“We will never accept the US pointing fingers at Sino-Russian relations or even coercing us,” he said.

Turkey’s foreign minister has insisted that Ankara is not selling products that could be used in Russia’s war effort, after US warnings earlier this month about exports of chemicals, microchips and other products.

Speaking after meeting US secretary of state Antony Blinken in Ankara, Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey will not allow US and European sanctions to be violated in or via Turkey, and Ankara is taking steps to prevent it.

A top US treasury official visited Turkish government and private sector officials earlier this month to urge more cooperation in disrupting the flow of goods that can be used by Moscow’s defence industries.

Poverty-stricken protestors in Moldova say they are not afraid of a Russian invasion after the Kremlin cut its gas supply to the country by half last year and sent energy bills soaring.

According to Moldova’s president Maia Sandu, energy bills now consume more than 70 per cent of household income.

The Sunday protests were organised by Moldova’s pro-Russian Sor party, reports the BBC.

Most demonstraters travelled to the capital city Chisinau by bus, with their costs allegedly covered by the Sor party.

“It’s very clear that Russia is an aggressor state,” Rosian Vasiloi, head of Moldova’s border police, told the BBC.

He told the broadcaster that as long as Ukraine continues to fight, and is victorious, he believes the risks for Moldova are lower.

“If Ukraine falls, Moldova is next,” he added. “But I’m not afraid.”

Chisinau Councillor Iurie Berenchi similarly said protestors were “not afraid,” telling the broadcaster: “Because if Russia wanted to take Moldova, they’d do it in half a day.”

Asked if he would welcome that, Mr Berenchi: “In my personal opinion, yes. With Russia we’d be much better off than we are now.”