KYIV — Simply days earlier than the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the streets of the capital have been out of the blue locked down on Monday morning. Then movies of a mysterious procession of autos with blacked-out home windows started being posted on-line.

Who, questioned many abnormal Ukrainians — making an attempt to go about their each day enterprise as finest as they will regardless of the battle — was the overseas visitor inflicting a lot inconvenience?

There had been rumors that Joe Biden was going to make a shock go to to Kyiv earlier than his scheduled journey to Poland. However the folks of Ukraine didn’t know for certain till Biden was pictured strolling out of Mykhailivsky monastery in central Kyiv along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The picture of the U.S. president calmly strolling in Kyiv, whereas air raid sirens blared within the background, gave hope to Ukrainians, who noticed a robust ally standing beside them.

“Thanks, Mister President, for visiting Kyiv in the present day. Sturdy gesture in assist of our struggle. Once more, we’re invincible when united! Russia is already dropping. Invaders will die. Be courageous like Ukrainians and like Biden,” outstanding Ukrainian army volunteer Serhiy Prytula stated in an announcement.

Russians have been clearly much less impressed. Dmitry Medvedev, a former president, reacted with a rant about Biden “being allowed to soundly journey to Kyiv by Russians” and Russian army bloggers began asking when Vladimir Putin goes to the occupied Donetsk area to point out the identical form of assist for his troops. 

Vladyslav Faraponov, an Internews Ukraine media analyst, advised POLITICO that “Russians are going loopy on social media as a result of they notice their weak point throughout this go to. There may be nothing they will do about it. What’s extra, as the primary anniversary of the battle approaches, it makes them consider their foolishness as Russia’s officers have satisfied them that Kyiv could possibly be captured in three days.”

Biden’s nationwide safety adviser, Jake Sullivan, advised the AP that the Russians have been solely formally knowledgeable a number of hours earlier than the go to to keep away from “any miscalculation that might deliver the 2 nuclear-armed nations into direct battle.”

“It’s tough to think about an even bigger diplomatic slap [in the face] to Putin than the arrival of President Biden in Kyiv,” former CEO of Ukrainian gasoline firm Naftogaz Andriy Kobolev wrote on Fb.

Biden got here bearing greater than assist: In a joint handle with Zelenskyy, he introduced half a billion {dollars} of further help to Ukraine, which can embrace army gear equivalent to artillery munitions, javelins and howitzers.

“Along with greater than 50 accomplice international locations, we’ve got authorised greater than 700 tanks and hundreds of armored autos,” the U.S. president stated. Biden additionally stated he thought it was vital to not go away any doubt about U.S. assist for Ukraine within the battle: “The Ukrainian folks have stepped up in a manner that few folks ever have prior to now.”

Ukraine’s Deputy Protection Minister Hanna Maliar described Biden’s go to as a historic day for Ukraine. “It’s a sunny and heat day in Kyiv. We survived this winter, which is nearly over. Now it’s time to win the battle,” she wrote in an announcement, posting a photograph of the Ukrainian first couple fortunately greeting Biden in Kyiv.

Ukrainian troopers preventing on the entrance strains additionally noticed Biden’s go to as a morale increase forward of the anticipated counteroffensive later this week.

“He got here to the capital, half a thousand kilometers from the entrance line. And the fellows on the very entrance, regardless of the wild fatigue and chilly, have a totally completely different temper. Extra power and energy. There may be even higher confidence that we’re doing all the pieces proper,” Ukrainian serviceman and environmental activist Yehor Firsov wrote in a Fb put up.

Faraponov, the Internews Ukraine media analyst, stated: “For my part, the go to of President Biden is essential for Ukrainians as a result of it hasn’t been introduced prematurely, and it brings some hope throughout this tough time.”

He added: “The go to is going on in the meanwhile of the Russian counteroffensive within the east. As well as, final week Russia continued to launch missiles throughout Ukraine. Due to this fact, Ukrainians have monumental expectations for the U.S. relating to extending its assist towards Ukraine. It applies to fighter jets, extra tanks, long-range missiles, and different means to defeat Russia. However what I’ve seen in the present day is a affirmation that Biden has a particular sentiment towards Ukraine.”

The shock go to was a logistical nightmare to rearrange. Biden left Washington at 4:15 a.m. native time and U.S. officers had expressed issues that the president couldn’t fly into Ukraine or take a 10-hour practice experience with out immense threat to the host nation and Biden himself. Guaranteeing the president’s security was a near-impossible endeavor, these officers stated, although they acknowledged Biden had lengthy needed to go to Kyiv.

A Ukrainian authorities official, talking on the situation on anonymity because of the confidential data concerned, stated the Ukrainians “have been requesting this go to for a very long time.”

The identical official added that the go to had been ready “in a really quick period of time” — round every week — “with the utmost degree of secrecy by way of (President’s Workplace Head Andriy) Yermak’s and (Overseas Minister Dmytro) Kuleba’s strains of communication.”

Biden’s daring transfer introduced reward from past Ukrainian borders. Estonian Overseas Minister Urmas Reinsalu stated the go to to Kyiv was “immense.”

“In a manner, it is going to body all these occasions across the unhappy anniversary of the 12 months of the full-scale battle. And it’ll give, I believe, quite a lot of psychological energy to the Ukrainian folks. It should give a robust sign to Russia. However essential additionally, I believe, everywhere in the planet, and likewise international locations of worldwide south will get that sign.”

Poland’s Ambassador to the EU Andrzej Sadoś stated Monday’s go to “strengthens the allies’ dedication to assist Ukraine and introduce additional sanctions in opposition to Russia. It’s a well timed, symbolic and historic go to which exhibits that the free world stands with Ukraine.”

Lili Bayer contributed reporting.